Every vote counts as Tynet farm scoops national trophy in dramatic poll finish
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A DRAMATIC finish to a national awards poll has seen a Buckie-area farm to propelled to glory.
Lower Mill of Tynet Farm, which is run by Gordon and June Whiteford, have triumphed in the #FoodHeroScot awards thanks to the backing of Moray voters.
Every vote counted in the end, with the couple squeaking home 23 votes of second placed Ethic Earth, totalling 3453 votes to top the 16-strong leaderboard.
Many of the competitors vying for the trophy were in the Central Belt but that population advantage did not stand in the way of the Whitefords triumphing
The awards seek to promote sustainability in Scotland’s food and drink industry, with the Food Hero title going to those who are leading the way towards this goal.
The Whitefords run a dairy farm and are also well known for the farm shop which sells a variety of fresh, organic produce including award-winning eggs and their own milk. The couple have built a vending machine style shop offering a wide range of produce, including the chance to make own flavoured fresh milk.
It was to be a nerve-racking run in to the voting deadline which was on midnight on Sunday, October 31.
Mr Whiteford said: "The website actually crashed on the 31st and didn't come back up until 11.30pm.
"We were in the top three on the leaderboard for quite a while and on the deadline day at one stage we were 200 votes ahead.
"We're delighted to have won and would like to thank everyone who voted for us. People in this area are particularly supportive of local businesses which we really appreciate."
"#FoodHeroScot are going to do a mini-documentary with us which is due to air next February."
The couple took over the tenancy at Lower Mill of Tynet Farm in 2012 and, six years after that, unveiled their 24 hour egg vending machine. It now features a range of organically-grown products, with last year seeing milk products added.
In August, milkshakes took their place in the range
The Whitefords are also at the vanguard of a diary resurgence in the area, with Mr Whiteford stating that Lower Mill of Tynet was the only farm in Banffshire to have started milking cows again. The trend in the industry has seen diary farms getting pushed down to Ayrshire and Dumfries where the climate is more suitable.
The farm is one of only two dairies in Moray and the sole farm from where milk can be bought.
Find out more about the farm and what it has to offer at their website – www.https://lowermilloftynet.co.uk/ – or follow their Facebook page.
