John Smith is to step down as chairman of producer organisation (PO) Northern Mushrooms Ltd (NML), citing the increasing demands of paperwork.
Smith is stepping down from his chairmanship of the board after 14 years at the helm. He will continue his position as chairman of Greyfriars.
During his period in the chair, the often outspoken Smith and his various boards have overseen major growth and development at NML.
During the period, turnover at the PO has increased from £3 million to £27m.
Dr John Burden will head up the board from 1 July. Burden is a veteran of the mushroom industry with considerable international experience.
NML grower members include farmers from the UK, Poland and the Netherlands.
Smith said: “In recent years, the role of chairman has become increasingly onerous and very demanding time-wise. The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme is perhaps the most important piece of horticultural legislation to have come out of the EU.
“It represents a critical catalyst for supply side concentration at a time when the demand side has become dominated by a handful of supermarkets - all of which have their own legitimate agendas.
“Unfortunately, DEFRA and the RPA, which manage the F&VA Scheme, have not acquitted themselves well and, as a result have been fined tens of millions of pounds by the EU in the last few years. Such fines have prompted an intense crackdown on PO activities by the RPA which in turn has put already hard-pressed growers under even more pressure.”
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