At the same time it launched Russell Farm Produce, the sales and marketing arm of the company, which, led by Nigel Russell, the fifth generation of the family to be involved in the farm, has helped to fuel constant and ongoing expansion.
Initially, the company invested in an onion peeling line, but demand has led Russell Farm Produce to offer a range of other products too, such as potatoes, leeks, carrots and celery. The onions and potatoes are primarily grown by the farm itself, but other crops are sourced from neighbouring growers within a
20-mile radius.
Nigel explains: "We try to ensure that all produce is sourced directly from the grower. Last year, however, when onions got very expensive, we had to source from other merchants and agents. But in any event we only tend to use English. A lot of people at the moment are using Polish because they're cheaper, but I'm an English farmer and I try to stick to English produce.
"Of course, we're in an excellent position, because where we are in Cambridgeshire - right in the middle of the Fens - which is where 26% of the fresh produce grown in the UK is from. So we are in an ideal position to collect from neighbouring farmers."
Russell Farm Produce supplies 14 "really good customers", but prefers to stay away from the major retailers. "Big is not always beautiful I say. I'd rather deal with several reliable family clients than I would with what I call big companies who can pick you up and drop you tomorrow. Last weekend I was down in Wales and I met one of my customers there; I like to know the face I'm dealing with. I like to go and visit people: we deal with several Sheffield / Chesterfield firms, so we recently had a day up there and went to meet them.
"Another client makes pots of curry for farm shops and other high quality outlets: it's a company in Hampshire, which has its own chain of Indian restaurants," Nigel concludes.
Diced, whole peel or straight onion, diced celery, carrots to whatever specification the client requires - the list of products on offer is continually growing. And at the present time, Russell Farm Produce is in the process of expanding the factory, putting in peeling facilities so that it can peel parsnips, carrots and potatoes. The plan is then to put in a chipping line so that the company can do vacuum packed, sealed chip potatoes, supplying them direct into local fish & chip shops. It would be an ideal solution for caterers, as they'd be ready to use, don't have to be peeled, and there are no problems of getting rid of the waste.

To find out more, telephone 01354 638284.