Dumfriesshire seed potato merchants, Jamieson Brothers, have given Ukrainian farmers a helping hand to keep the country fed.
The family-run company, which operates from Rosefield Farm on the outskirts of Annan and celebrated its 125th anniversary during lockdown, has donated 25 tonnes of potato seeds to Ukrainian farmers so they could plant for harvest and help “feed the country” amid the war with Russia.
Iain Barbour, commercial director at Jamieson Brothers, said: “The seeds are now in the hands of the farmers and I am thrilled to hear how our donation will help thousands of Ukrainians.”
The generosity is all the more remarkable because, since January 2021, it became illegal to send any of its JBA Seed Potatoes brand to any EU country or Northern Ireland as exports were excluded from the Brexit deal in an unbending EU certification scheme stance.
They had to get a “special dispensation” to send the vital seed potatoes to the war-torn country and are grateful to farmer Rafal Tomala who helped to organise the transport.
Iain said: “Once the war broke out in the Ukraine, I automatically wanted to help the farmers get back on their feet after the bombs destroyed most of their
crops.
“Making the decision to donate potato seeds was a natural reaction for me as I saw people in need and I wanted to help feed the country again.”
Before Brexit they also sold overseas to countries including Spain, Germany, Holland, Sweden and Slovenia and are the current world record holder for the highest number of different potato varieties on show at one place at one time – 667 at Gardening Scotland in 2013.
