Meet the Red Tractor team:
Your sector representatives

- Fresh Produce Sector Chair

- Technical Manager

- Board

Meet your Red Tractor Fresh Produce team

Fresh Produce Sector Chair, Lucy MacLennan

Lucy MacLennan, Chair of the Fresh Produce Board, has over 25 years of experience in the food industry, agriculture, and fresh produce. A Nuffield Scholar and CEO of the Organic Research Centre, Lucy has contributed to enhancing the quality and safety of fresh produce for major UK retailers like Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s.

In her report on the Fresh Produce Board’s July meeting, Lucy highlights the board's focus on food safety standards and the importance of implementing processes that protect businesses. The discussion also emphasised how certification can serve as part of a legal defence if issues arise.

Sam Trevey, Fresh Produce Technical Manager

Sam Trevey joined Red Tractor in 2022. In his role as Fresh Produce Technical Manager he is responsible for the management and development of the Fresh Produce Standards, working with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that they remain fit for purpose and meet the needs of the industry.

Sam has had 20 years’ experience in the food industry and has a background in food safety auditing at farm level in the UK and abroad to various standards. Sam is an amateur grower and allotment-holder himself, as well as a keen artist, and has won prizes for both his giant pumpkins and his oil paintings!

Catch Sam at UK Pea & Bean Conference

Sam will be discussing assessments for Red Tractor vining pea growers at the upcoming British Peas & Beans Conference in November.

Returning to Boston, this event, last held in 2022, will bring together growers, managers, field staff, agricultural leaders, and senior executives from processing and freezing companies. Sam will be engaging with members to gather valuable insights that will help ensure assessments remain practical, relevant, and reflective of on-the-ground realities.

By actively listening to growers, at events or directly, Red Tractor can begin addressing key challenges and ensure that the certification process adds value to all members without becoming overly burdensome.

This feedback is crucial for aligning assessments with growers' needs while upholding the integrity of the Red Tractor scheme, essential to the continued success and reputation of the industry. You can get in touch with us anytime, call 020 7630 3320 or email memberhelp@redtractor.org.uk

Meet your Red Tractor Fresh Produce Board

Damon Johnson

After earning a degree in Agricultural Business Management from Wye College, London University, Damon has worked in the produce sector on farms, as a supplier, and with retailers. Since 2018, he has been Head of Technical - Produce & Horticulture at Morrisons.

David Kennedy

David is an experienced consultant and trainer specialising in fresh produce food safety, with a focus on microbial pathogens in the food chain. His career with vegetable crops began over 40 years ago after graduating from Strathclyde University. David spent 9 years as an ADAS advisor before moving to Geest (now Bakkavor) to manage global fresh produce supply chains. He later worked at Greencore, overseeing produce supply for high-care manufacturing, including M&S Sandwiches.

James Lee

James is Head of Agronomy for Produce Solutions (part of Greenvale). He has worked in many aspects of the potato supply chain - growing, storage, packing and processing, and had ten year’s working as a Technical Manager where he was responsible for quality and food safety for Greenvale’s potato supply into retailers and processors. 

James is also a director of CUPGRA (a large member-owned potato research organisation), an active contributor to many cross- industry initiatives, and a BASIS examiner.

Jan Redpath

Jan is the Technical Director at Angus Soft Fruits Ltd, where he oversees the technical and agronomy teams, as well as driving initiatives in innovation, sustainability, and ethical practices.

With over 25 years of experience in the fresh produce industry, Jan has extensive expertise in navigating the complexities of assurance and compliance within both growing and packing operations.

Kelly Shields

Kelly has a MSc in Food Safety Management and has spent 20 years as a consultant in primary production, working with growers, packers, and retailers.

She is the Technical Director at the Fresh Produce Consortium, representing national and international fresh produce supply chains.

Phil Pearson

Phil is Development Director for the largest tomato producing company in the UK, APS Produce. He is involved in product development and sustainability measures including carbon capture, power generation, packaging developments, robotics and vertical farming. Phil has been Chair of the Technical Committee of the Tomato Growers Association for 25 years and is a NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board member.

Sarah Blanford

Sarah has worked at Sainsburys for nearly 20 years in various roles across produce and agriculture. She is currently Head of Technical for Produce and Horticulture. Prior to Sainsburys Sarah worked in the supplier base.

Veryan Bliss

Veryan studied Rural Environment Management at Shuttleworth Agricultural College. Most of her career has been as a Technical Director in protected cropping, specialising in supplying tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers to major retailers. She founded Food-Intelligence Ltd in 2022, a consultancy providing technical, commercial, and strategic expertise to fresh produce and AgriTech businesses.

Stephen Shields

Stephen is Technical Director at Huntapac Produce Ltd, a family-owned business in Southport supplying major retailers with root vegetables, salads, and brassicas. With over 16 years in fresh produce and 32 years in the food industry, he joined Huntapac in 2012. Stephen has contributed to customer-facing groups like the Waitrose Agronomy Group, Tesco R&D Committee, and chaired the Co-op's Crop Production Group. He is the current NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Vice Chair.

Tim Casey

After a gap year farming in New Zealand and a degree at Harper Adams, Tim spent two years growing baby leaf salad in Portugal. Tim is now actively involved in the family business in Lincolnshire growing and supply leeks and asparagus to major retailers.