AN ORGANIC farmers' group is nearing its first anniversary full of optimism.

With 40 members it is looking at the possibility of supplying organic produce to local schools. Two schools in Ryedale are already interested and a marketing survey of group members is almost complete.

The Yorkshire Organics Producer Group, founded in November last year, was the brainchild of Jenny Summerson and David Hollingworth. They wrote to 60 fellow organic producers inviting them to a meeting, and the group was born.

They both believed organic farmers could feel isolated. Apart from the social side, where ideas and advice can be swapped, the group also has business benefits.

Some members have organic farm shops and have been keen for fellow members to help with supplies.

"It has worked very well," said Miss Summerson, whose family has Pasture Cottage Organics at Mickleby, between Sandsend and Runswick Bay. "One aim is to raise organic awareness in Yorkshire. We went to Ryedale, Egton and Stokesley shows with a stand and had a very good response from the public."

The group is open to all organic producers in Yorkshire, although the present membership is centred on an area bounded by Leeds in the south; Northallerton and Richmond across to Whitby and Scarborough.

The Summersons went through the trauma of losing their dairy herd as a contiguous cull during the foot-and-mouth crisis and are slowly re-building their stock.

"We have always been concerned about the environment and the effects of pesticides and artificial fertilisers and could see a market developing for organics," said Miss Summerson. "There was also a slight premium to be gained which, being a small family farm, is a big help."

She farms with her parents, William and Kathleen; her brother, Martin, looks after the livestock.

The farm gained full organic status in April 2002. It supports a small dairy herd of MRI-Friesian cross cows and 25 Aberdeen Angus suckler cows.

"We have the suckler herd because there is more demand for organic beef than organic milk," said Miss Suumerson. "We chose Aberdeen Angus because of the quality of the meat. The MRI-Friesian is a dual-purpose cow, producing good beef as well as good quality milk."

The farm will sell its first milk on November 1 but it will go as conventional, rather than organic. There is too much organic milk for them to get a contract, but things may change as some of those attracted by conversion grants may soon begin to drop out.

The farm has a thriving organic egg business, selling directly from the farmgate and supplying First Season, the organic shop in Whitby.

"They sell very well, in fact we can't supply enough," said Miss Summerson. "People say they have a superb quality yolk. We were selling them as free range before we became organic but organic hens have to be free range."

They also have three acres of seasonal organic vegetables which are again popular with customers.

Potatoes have been sold at the farmgate since Jenny's grandfather first arrived at the farm in the early Thirties, but they now have a shop selling the vegetables, potatoes and eggs.

After getting through the traumas caused by foot-and-mouth, the Summersons are getting back on their feet and firmly believe their future is in organics.

They are members of Whitby Organic Group, where the membership is mostly made up of consumers and gardeners, but it was when Miss Summerson's family were buying some cattle from Mr Hollingworth and got chatting that they agreed it would be good to see if other organic farmers would like to form their own group.

Any other organic producers interested in the Yorkshire Organics Producer Group can contact Miss Summerson, who is the secretary, on 01947 840075. Co-founder David Hollingworth is chairman and Alan Harland, another well-known farmer in the area, is treasurer.

Although the majority of members are organic producers/processors, associate members simply interested in organic farming and food are also welcomed