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Our History
Duncan Worth is the fourth generation of the Worth family to farm the alluvial silts at Manor Farm, Holbeach Hurn. Arthur Hovenden Worth moved to the area in the late 1800‘s when, with the help of his father he bought 1500 acres. An additional 500 acres was purchased shortly after. In those early days the very simple 3 year rotation was clover, potatoes and then wheat. This was
extended when eelworm infestations forced a wider rotation. The Worth family also farmed land around Soham, Cambridgeshire which, in the early 1960‘s, initiated the retail business link by serving M&S with celery. Although the business was later sold, the relationship with M&S developed to serve runner beans in the 1960‘s, frozen peas in the 1970‘s, and continues with potatoes and vegetables today through our associate Manor Fresh. In 1969 the Worth farming business was instrumental in forming and managing a local potato and vining pea cooperative,
Holbeach Marsh Co-operative. HMC included many local businesses who each were shareholders. The potato business served the London wholesale markets with dry brushed QV branded potatoes, with the vining pea operation serving the freezers. Retail sales of potatoes into the supermarkets started with baking potatoes to M&S in 1979. After this the potato business expanded rapidly, mainly due to the increased retail business with Sainsbury and Tesco as customer. In 1995 the co-operative was made into a limited company and QV Foods was formed.
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