A FAMILY who have invested £500,000 in expanding their North Yorkshire farming and haulage business have been praised by NFU president Sir Ben Gill.

He was formally opening a new 5,000 sq ft office and training facility plus an 8,000 sq ft commercial workshop, at Whitkirk Produce Company's Easingwold site.

Whitkirk Produce Company, which was established in 1965 by Michael Grant and is today managed by his daughter, Jane, employs 60 people at its sites at Easingwold, and Garforth, Leeds.

Sir Ben, who farms near Easingwold, said: "Pressures facing farming at the moment are intense and varied. A key pressure is to be able to compete in a global market place. With changes in the Common Agricultural Policy becoming more focused it is difficult to compete on price alone. We have to look at the whole food chain as to how we are efficient and producing to ever-higher standards."

Originally a supplier of potatoes to local fish-and-chip shops, and manure to farmers in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Whitkirk Produce Company diversified into bulk haulage in the 1960s and the handling of agricultural commodities, such as sugar beet and animal feeds.

Over the last three years, healthy increases in turnover have seen an average annual growth rate of 25 per cent, due to structured diversification of the company's business activities into waste management and veterinary services.

Jane Grant, managing director, said: "This new office and training facility will help us to ensure our staff are kept up to date with the latest legislation and best practice, while the commercial vehicle workshop will be used to maintain our fleet to the highest standards for the benefit of our customers and employees."

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, July 29, 2003