Wednesday 4th September 2024
It's Our 30th Birthday!
Celebrate good times, come on! It’s our 30th Birthday so we thought it was only right to take a moment to reflect on what we have achieved over the past 30 years and see what the next five have in store for Yeo Valley Organic!
What better way to begin our trip down memory lane than chatting with our founder, Tim Mead, and Farms Development Manager, Will Mayor. From their proudest moments and most tranquil spots in the Valley to exciting new projects, we have really picked their brains to give you a rundown of our best moments as an organic brand over the past thirty years.
So, without further ado, take it away, Tim…
What moment over the past 30 years are you most proud of?
''My proudest moment over the past 30 years must have been when we had a Royal Visit from Queen Elizabeth II back in 2007. The effect it had, and the memories that it created for people right across the business, were very special. Of course, there was an element of relief that nothing went wrong, but at the time I didn’t properly clock how excited co-owners really were. It’s continued to present day, with people still coming up to me saying, ‘Do you remember when the Queen came to visit?’.”
In your opinion, what does the next 5 years of Yeo Valley Organic look like?
“The next five years are going to be very busy; in 2026, we will be two thirds of the way into our 100-year plan. What does that tell us? Well, we’ve been around for a good few years for a start! Since 1961, to be precise. Our job as food producers is to provide food for all as we believe that everyone deserves to eat well. Even if you place only one organic product in your shopping basket, it can make a huge difference!”
Where’s your favourite place to get peace in the valley?
''My favourite place to get peace in the valley is ‘Pride Rock’, named after The Lion King of course! If you go up behind Merecombe Wood, immediately below Wills Barn on the bottom right-hand side, there is a big cliff face with a rock that sticks out. We often try and get our dog to sit on it as a joke, but it overlooks ancient woodland so you can imagine how amazing the views are!”
Over to you, Will…
Are there any exciting projects coming up in organic farming?
“We have lots of exciting projects coming up in organic farming…. We’re focusing our efforts on more homegrown proteins, applying regenerative grazing principles in our dairy grazing and integrating sheep and beef together in our woodland pasture system.
Regenerative organic farming focuses on soil health, and one of our workflows to support this is mob grazing. This means our herd grazes for shorter durations on a specific area and is then moved to a different location, with the area left for a longer recovery period to create taller ley. This increases roots by 30% and boosts diversity in the herbal leys, which the cows ultimately eat. We are continuing to analyse how mob grazing is working to support nature and our cows.”
Which have been the most successful families of British Friesian cows?
The successful British Friesian cow families that come to mind are our Wendy‘s, as they are known for longevity, resilience and strength, along with the Barbara family. Lake Mead Jingle was the top-selling British Friesian bull, which came out of the Lake Mead Jewel 20 family and bred off our own Lake Mead Pinnacle sire. But we love all our cows equally, of course!”
What do you see as a long-term future for Yeo Valley Organic?
In terms of our long-term future, we believe in our Regenerative Organic Farming system that produces a range of real nutrient-dense food, while benefitting nature. Our dairy plays a key role in that but is only one aspect. A diverse farm is resilient and works with nature. We already produce Milk, Beef, Lamb, Oats, Peas and Barley to name a few and this is growing. Is it chickens next? We can't wait to share all this great food with you!
With 30 years behind us and many more to go, join us in raising a toast this week to celebrate all that we have achieved!
