The National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) has elected a new chairman - Stuart Beare, owner of Tulleys Farm in West Sussex.

Beare, 39, becomes one of the youngest farmers ever to take up the position, but his long-standing experience of and contribution to farm retailing is well recognised in the sector.

Beare opened a farm shop in 1992, at the height of an economic recession and contrary to the instincts of many around him, but the venture proved a success and was redeveloped in 2002.

Tulleys Farm is now best known for its farm attractions, which draw crowds of around 100,000 each year, while Beare also sits on the board of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association after winning its International Farm Retailer of the Year Award in 2004.

Beare’s vision is to pull together and add to the diverse strands of the association, in part by working with partner organisations, which he hopes will be apparent at the next FARMA conference, due to take place at the Telford International Centre in January 2010.

“FARMA is a dynamic organisation and we will continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved," said Beare. "The FARMA conference is an important source of inspiration and information for members, and the 2010 event already looks set to be bigger and better than ever, encompassing a wider range of topics and themes relevant to all aspects of farm retailing."

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