Guy Poskitt is to step down as chairman of the NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board.
Poskitt, who has been chairman for two years since replacing Sarah Dawson, said he came to the decision in order to commit more time to his family carrot business, MH Poskitt. He hopes to remain on the board.
'The commercial pressure has never been greater in our sector and I feel I must give as much focus and time as possible to my family business,' he wrote in the NFU newsletter.
'The last two years have been both challenging and rewarding, giving me an insight into many aspects of our industry that I would never have had the opportunity to see,' he continued. 'Political lobbying is sometimes very frustrating as you hit several brick walls, but we need to remember, even in times of little success, without the strength of the NFU, farmers would be a very weak player in our constitution.'
Elections for a new chair will take place at a meeting of the board on 23 March. Current vice chair, fruit grower Ali Capper, is expected to be a leading contender for the role, though other members of the 10-strong board could also put themselves forward. An appointment process for new board members is also currently taking place.
Poskitt listed his greatest achievement as chairman as Aldi's signing of the NFU Fruit & Veg Pledge, which commits to more supply chain transparency.
On the flipside, he said a number of signficant challenges still face the industry, in particular the National Living Wage, issues around pesticides and the Brexit debate, in which Poskitt said he was pro-EU.
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