People in the industry

Ensuring that British leafy salads are grown to the highest standards relies on a variety of dedicated industry professionals who are responsible for different links in the chain. From the workers who plant the seed through to the agronomists, growers and industry advisors – each has an important role to play. Here are just some of those links in the leafy salad industry chain….

David Piccaver
Chairman of the BLSA

David’s role as chairman of the BLSA involves representing the organisation at industry meetings, ensuring that any issues relevant to members, such as new legislation, environment, wastage, pesticides and water are fully discussed. A key responsibility is research and development to support the lobbying process to fund specific projects and also to promote and defend the industry as appropriate.

Looking to the future, David says: “I would like the BLSA to become an even stronger voice for the industry. I would like to seek synergistic activity with other crop associations to combine collective strength where appropriate.”

David’s Typical Day:

I check the weather forecast as soon as I get up, then my first task is to look at internal and local news to monitor any relevant news stories. A key responsibility is to look at crop availability using a rolling forecast. A typical day might also discuss any operation issues with my team – the good areas as well as aspects for improvement.

At any one time we might also be running specific research and development projects. For example, at the moment we are looking at a cutting edge irrigation and fertigation system, whereby fertilisers are applied through the irrigation system. Part of my day might be involved with that, plus liaising with other key bodies to keep informed of industry developments.

David Norman, Technical Director

David is an independent consultant agronomist with over 25 years of practical experience in intensive commercial production of vegetable and salad crops. He has a degree in Environmental Plant Geography from Reading University where he studied plant root and soil interactions.

He has certificates of competence from BASIS, FACTS and HACCP, is a founder member of the Vegetable Consultants Association and is a BASIS tutor and examiner.

After graduation he worked as a research agronomist with PGRO and then MAFF. Following this he spent 10 years as an independent consultant agronomist with ADAS, before launching his own independent consultancy business, Fresh Produce Consultancy in 1993. Since 1993 Fresh Produce Consultancy has provided a range of technical, agronomy and precision services to vegetable and salad producers, mainly in East Anglia. David sits on the HDC salads R&D group, the HDC allium R&D group and is an elected member of the HDC Field Vegetable Panel which decides on research spending priorities across the field vegetable and salad sectors.

Dr Jim Monaghan

Jim is based at Harper Adams University College. His teaching duties are fresh produce production, food safety in the production of fresh produce and QA systems and their role in the supply chain.

His research interests are:

Production systems for field grown horticultural crops
Fertigation in field vegetables
Post harvest treatments for increased shelf life of fresh produce
Food safety in fresh produce
Procurement options for fresh produce importation in the future and risks to UK Plant Health.

Shaun Clarkson, Senior Agronomist, has worked for Langmeads since 1990 and took over the running of the UK agronomy in 2001.

His role includes setting out the plans for growing which crops at what time, advising the growers on any issues, finding solutions to crop issues (for example - through rotations, variety resistance, crop barriers, better understanding of life cycles to see where controls may fit etc), ensuring continuity of quality and supply to customers, ensuring crops are safe to consumers, reducing cost where practical, working with industry bodies such as Pesticide Safety Directive, HDC, BLSA to provide the necessary tools for growers such as new chemistry and working on projects designed to improve growing techniques.

He says: "More and more we are seeing salad consumption increasing as we learn to promote the industry as a healthy way forward. We are now better at promoting the benefits of eating salads and this has to continue to be the target."

"The main benefit of being a member of the BLSA is that it allows the growers a forum to work together on behalf of the industry, linking up with the HDC on industry needs and project work."

Shaun's typical day:

"On a typical day I might be required to look at crops and give advice and help as necessary. I will oversee all project and trial work and new crop innovation. I monitor and improve blueprints as required and I might meet with and advise a grower on strategy. I am also involved in technical work with our customers and other parties. My role is to keep the farm focus on quality, continuity, crop loss issues and farm sustainability.