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Home Buckie Article

A farm in the BUCKIE region hopes that local support will push them to win the national competition all the way.

The lower mill of Tynet Farm, run by Gordon and June Whiteford, is vying for the top spot in the #FoodHeroScot award.

These are designed to promote the sustainable development of the Scottish food and beverage industry, and the title of Food Hero will be awarded to those who lead this goal.

Whitefords runs a dairy farm and is also known for farm shops that sell a variety of fresh organic produce, including award-winning eggs and their own milk. The couple set up a vending machine-style store offering a variety of products, including the opportunity to make their own flavored fresh milk.

The farm is currently in the top three, and the last vote between now and this Sunday’s deadline may be the difference that pushed Whiteford to victory.

Mr. Whiteford said: "We are really happy to be able to participate in the competition, especially because many of our competitors are located in the more populous central area.

"I think people here are more supportive of their local businesses, and we are very grateful for being nominated.

"We came here in 2012 and started the egg vending machine six years ago.

"Last year, we opened a new store and added our milk to the products we sold last year.

"This store has been very busy, and the addition of milkshakes in August really played a role."

As Mr. Whiteford explained, the Whitefords were also pioneers in the revival of diaries in the area.

"We are the only farm in Banffshire to start milking again; the industry has been pushed to Ayrshire and Dumfries where the climate is more suitable.

"Morayshire has only two dairy farms; we are the only one within a 40-mile radius, and we are the only place in these two counties where you can buy milk."

To vote for Tynet Farm’s lower mill, please visit www.foodheroscot.co.uk

Mr. Whiteford originally came from Ayrshire, where he grew up on a dairy farm until he was 10 years old. He was passionate about animal welfare and the environment and spent a year studying best practices around the world through the Nuffield Scholarship .

He is now applying these new technologies in the production of eggs and organic feed on the farm, which not only helps improve the environment, but also produces higher quality products.

After studying agricultural business management, Mr. Whiteford received support from the Prince Trust Fund to start his organic egg business, Highland Eggs.

From there, the lease with Crown Estates meant that he was able to build a packaging facility at the lower mill of Tynet Farm, which was a mix of cattle and farmland, allowing him to take charge of the entire process.

Learn more about the farm and what it offers on their website-www.https://lowermilloftynet.co.uk/ _ or follow their Facebook page.