A talented young farmer working for one of the largest organic carrot growers in the UK has triumphed at a national awards event to find the country's best young growers in the sector.

Alex Parkinson works for RBOrganic - which is part of Burgess Farms and is based at Houghton, between Fakenham and King's Lynn.

Despite being from a non-farming, engineering background, he has risen rapidly through the ranks.

He started on a Sainsbury's apprenticeship and became a tractor driver, then assistant manager before becoming manager.

He has now scooped Organic Research Centre's (ORC) Young Organic Farmer/Grower of the Year Award 2022/23 at the National Organic Conference (NOC) held at Green Acres Farm in Shropshire on Tuesday (July 4).

The award is aimed at highlighting the achievements of young organic farmers and growers who are passionate about implementing organic principles.

Judges said Alex stood out for his "wide vision for organic farming, the way he has learnt on the job, and his influence on larger producers to think organic’" 

Alex was represented at the event by Andrew Burgess, agricultural director for Burgess Farms.

Alex scooped a cash prize of £1,500 and a selection of books on organic and agroecological farming worth more than £500 from Chelsea Green Publishing.

Andrew said: "Alex arrived with us as a young man without a farming background and settled in very quickly to the farm.

"He's a quick learner, hungry for knowledge and a hard worker with a great personality.

"We've just watched him grow and develop over his 10 years with us, taking on more and more responsibility and building his knowledge base. 

"In organic farming - and horticulture in particular – attention to detail is the difference between making it or not, and he has got that.”

ORC chairman of trustees Donald Peck - who visited Alex with the other judges - said: “What came across was his enthusiasm, technical knowledge – much of it picked up on the job – and willingness to experiment. 

"His success should show how feasible and sensible it is for larger producers to think organic.”

ORC chief executive Lucy MacLennan presented Alex with the awards at an earlier date due to his work commitments and said the quality of entries was "extremely high". 

"As the need to embrace organic farming methods becomes ever more evident if we are to combat climate change and address biodiversity loss, we are so proud of our finalists for the difference they are making," she said. 

Roger Kerr, chief executive of OF&G added: “NOC has always aimed to provide a platform for the organic community to come together to meet, share, discuss and demonstrate organic food and farming in action. 

"What better way to celebrate this than through highlighting the work of these young farmers and providing the recognition they so richly deserve.”