Broglasco Farm, home of Northern Ireland’s award-winning Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, has recently diversified in growing and processing carrots.

The farm, which is owned by husband and wife team Richard and Leona Kane and is located near Limavady in County Londonderry, has bought a local carrot planting and processing machinery outfit, which was based in County Londonderry. The landscape of Magilligan and the Roe Valley is widely recognised as one of the best for growing carrots in Northern Ireland.

Leona Kane, who runs the highly successful cold pressed Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, explains “If we were passing the farm, we would always have called in and bought some carrots and vegetables on our way past, and we just thought they are the best carrots around. They’ve always been very tasty and have a great colour, both of which are the result of the great soil in which they are grown.

“We reckoned with carrots having so many health benefits that it would fit in well with our rapeseed oil business, which is full of Omega 3, 6 and 9, and also another locally product. We subsequently acquired the plant and machinery as part of the investment and are committed to continue the development of the business as a producer of quality carrots,” she adds.

Broglasco Farm will be planting around 20 acres of carrots this year with the help of seasoned grower, Fergus Cooke.

“We have handpicked five varieties of carrots, two of which are popular bulking varieties, and three for shoppers based on taste, colour and other consumer preferences. Our aim is to develop products which will offer consumers something deliciously different and in line with market requirements.

“The main carrots were the standard Eskimo and Nairobi varieties and these will continue.  Three more varieties are being introduced.” adds Mrs Kane.

Broglasco intends to sell the carrots to vegetable distributors in Northern Ireland to process and market them. The farm, in addition, plans to wash, pack and bag carrots on-site for local sale.