Alan Schofield

I am 50 years of age married to Debra with one son, Christopher and three grandchildren.

I have been growing organically since 1982 when I started in a share farming agreement with a glasshouse producer in my area

I developed a field vegetable enterprise and went on to purchase our first nursery in 1987. In 1992 we started our box scheme Growing with Nature and have run this since. I work actively with 6 other local producers providing a valuble market for their produce through our box scheme. In 2005 we purchased a further 18 acres of land to produce field vegetables on. Over the years Growing with Nature has won many national and local awards in recognition of our work in local food production. In 2004 We were awarded the Soil Association Organic Trophy in recognition of our work in promoting organic horticulture

I was a committee member of the Organic Growers Association in the 1980's and when this was absorbed back into the Soil Association became a member of the Horticultural Standards Committee. I became chair of the HSC for 8 years and was a member of the newly formed Standards Board for 3 years. I was a member of the UKROFS now ACOS Technical committee for 3 years.

I have always been passionate about organic horticulture and have been active over the last 25 years ensuring that growers have adequate representation on matters that affect them. I was part of the group of growers that formed the Organic Growers Alliance and have been its acting Chair since its inception in December 2006.