FARMING
Cullimore Group acquires a tractor of a very different kind
Mention Red Tractors and the Cullimore Group in the same sentence and you probably think about a new vehicle being added to the company’s haulage fleet. But the new addition to the Gloucestershire-based supplier of transport and haulage services is not a new vehicle, but accreditation for the products coming out of their new farm. Because the Cullimore Group has reignited its farming roots that inspired them into business in 1927, with significant investments being made in to the family farm. And Cullimore Farms has already achieved the industry-standard Red Tractor Assurance Accreditation for its produce. Cullimore Farms is producing barley, wheat and maize as well as rearing Gloucester Old Spot Pigs and Charolais Cows for pork and beef. They are also keeping Cotswold Legbar and Burford Brown chickens for eggs. Moreton Cullimore, a partner in the farm, said: “The Cullimore bloodline were farmers long before the first truck hit the road. “And while my father kept the farm operation with arable farming and about 300 dairy cattle, milk prices meant that a dairy farm of that size could not remain a viable commercial entity. “However, the decision was made last year to bring me in as a managing partner, while my father eases into retirement. “We have been working around the clock to bring in the right machinery and my first goal is for the farm to become self-sufficient, and then to expand our footprint to offer services to others in the agricultural community." Achieving Red Tractor Assurance accreditation will mean all the Cullimore Farm produce will bear the Red Tractor logo. That means that all the products have met stringent standards and reassures customers that what they are buying is traceable, safe food and drink they can trust. Mr Cullimore said that achieving the standard took a lot of work, but added that he hoped to reap the
rewards of the work – especially from the orchard of cider apple, pear and plum trees. He added: “This time next year I hope to be able to enjoy a nice cold glass of cider, which is most welcome when you’ve spent all day in the fields. “There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears this past year, but now we have reached Red Tractor standards it’s all been worthwhile. “To see the logo on our produce is not only a reward for that hard work, it demonstrates we are doing things the right way and farming ethically – which benefits the end user” l
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106 | September 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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