H.W Smith & Sons (Carlton) Ltd was established in 1962 and for nearly thirty years practiced traditional arable farming. In 1993 the face of farming changed with the advent of the new Government support systems and the decision was taken to diversify into crops not associated with the support schemes.
In 1993, the first 30 hectares of carrots were planted on Mattersey Grange which is a sand land farm. After this first successful harvest, they decided to stay with the crop and have gradually increased the acreage until this year they will grow around 175 hectares. In addition the farm now grows 70 hectares of parsnips, 45 hectares of onions and 18 hectares of asparagus. This area is possible by exchanging the farms heavier land for use with arable crops and renting light land in.
They believe that their success is due to only using irrigable sand land which has not been over cropped with carrots etc. and to have a policy of producing the best possible crop.
