TWO leading figures from the world of agriculture have joined Northumbria Larder as non-executive directors.

Sir Donald Curry, former chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission, chaired the recent commission into the future of British farming. Sir Don farms near Hexham.

He has been joined on the board by John Evans, managing director of JSR Foods of Driffield.

Mr Evans is a former managing director of SK Chilled Foods which, during the six years he was at the helm, saw its turnover increase from £2m to £25m and the number of employees rise from 125 to 750.

He is well-known nationally in the food industry and is also chairman of the North-East Strategy Group for the development of the region's food and drink industry.

Northumbria Larder chairman Karl Christensen, of Newcastle University's Department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing, was delighted with the appointments.

"We are very pleased that two such eminent figures in farming and food have joined our board of directors," he said.

"They both have a wealth of experience and knowledge which will be invaluable to an organisation like Northumbria Larder, which is a voluntary association of some 40 small, independent food producers throughout the North-East.

"We are now going to be much better equipped to face the future with such expertise on board."

The membership elected six more directors.

Board members pictured above are, left to right Steve Ramshaw, Northumbrian Quality Meats, East Monkridge Farm, West Woodburn; Jonathan Benson, Lanchester Fruit, Lanchester; Willie Robson, Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Horncliffe, Berwick; Ann Hustwit, Jenkins and Hustwit, Farmhouse Fruit Cakes, Bishop Auckland; Sir Donald Curry, non-executive director; John Evans, managing director JSR Foods, Driffield, non-executive director; and Karl Christensen of Newcastle University department of Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing and chairman of Northumbria Larder.

Not pictured are Lesley Armstrong, Cottage Rooms Cuisine, Carrsgate East, Bardon Mill and Mark Robertson, Northumberland Cheese Company, Blagdon, Morpeth