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 simple 3 year rotation was clover, potatoes and then wheat. This was extended when eelworm infestation forced a wider rotation.
The Worth family also farmed land around Soham, Cambridgeshire which, in the early 1960’s, initiated the retail business 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 co-operative, 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, and the vining pea operation supplied 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 increased retail business with Sainsbury and Tesco. In 1995 the co-operative became a limited company, was purchased by AH Worth, and QV Foods was formed.