BLUEBERRIES grown from plants that were planted in 1964 are up for a top award.
Brother's Farm Blueberries in Dorset is a finalist in the 'Best Food Producer' category of the BBC Food & Farming Awards 2023.
This is the oldest blueberry plantation in the UK and it is run by Josh Benson, who took over the blueberry field in 2015.
He teamed up with his broth Dan in 2018 and now the pair also run Brother's Farm Flowers and the Brother's Farm Cafe.
"We have never been up for an award like this before and it isn't something we would have pursued, but someone nominated us and it is a nice feeling to know someone has found the time to do that," said Dan.
"Hopefully one day we will find out who it was so we can say thank you! Sometimes it is difficult to find the motivation to keep going when you have a business that gets the majority of its income in such a short period of time, so it's nice to have the awards - it is exciting."
Trehane Bluberries were planted in 1964 by David Trehane. The plants thrived in the acidic Dorset heathland soil. Eventually David moved back to his home - Cornwall - and the business was taken over by other generations of the Trehane family, until Josh took over in 2015.
Josh said it was a 'total surprise' to be nominated for the award.
"The nomination is a nod to the Trehanes because we are still farming the same plants – it’s a real honour to be shortlisted.
"Personally I feel proud to be carrying on what the Trehanes started. I’m sure David, who started it back in the 50s, would be proud of being shortlisted but also proud that the business is still going today.
"It is nice to see mine and Dan's hard work paying off. We are only open for brief periods, i.e. Christmas, spring, summer, but people look forward to coming here when we are open."
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