A SCARBOROUGH farming company which grasped the nettle of change in the industry and spotted a niche market in the potato production world, has won a prestigious award, the C J Swiers Memorial Enterprise Competition.

A W Hardwick and Sons of Wydale Cote Farm, Snainton, began growing seed potatoes 12 years ago at their 1,150-acre farm.

Over the years it has evolved, producing potatoes for both the fresh and processing markets, said Edward Hardwick, who farms the picturesque farmland near the beauty spot of Troutsdale with his brother Robert, and son Alexander.

They have seen the enterprise expand and have specialised in growing six varieties, part of the production going to McCain, the frozen food company at Scarborough.

Buildings which had become redundant have been given a new role as stores for the crops grown on the farm.

The award is in memory of the late Chris Swiers, a former chairman of both the North Riding County Branch of the National Farmers' Union, and the Scarborough branch, who was also a leading figure in the Milk Marketing Board.

The Scarborough branch organises the competition for all its members, said Irene Pickering of the NFU.

"The competition is for farmers who have made the best use of resources available to them in the establishment, or development, of a business or farm enterprise," she said.

This year's competition was sponsored by Lloyds TSB, which provided the £150 prize money together with a model of the bank's famous black horse, which was presented by Geoff Hall, regional agricultural manager for the bank, and by Coun Helen Swiers, widow of Mr Swiers.

"It is an excellent example of how farmers are adapting their businesses to cope with the changes which are happening in agriculture," said Mrs Swiers, who is herself a leading farmer at Broxa.

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, September 18, 2002