FARMING minister Jane Kennedy made a fact-finding visit to Herefordshire to look at some of its oldest fruit orchards.

She was the guest of the Co- Operative Farms’ 880-acre unit at Tillington, near Hereford, where it grows apples, pears, cherries and damsons mainly for Co-op food stores.

Mrs Kennedy’s visit to the farm was private and she was shown around by Tillington’s farm manager William Barnett, the company’s managing director Christine Tacon and David Gardner, head of fruit operations.

The Co-op has been farming at Tillington for nearly 100 years.

“I am sure she found her visit interesting and informative. She had lots of questions and we had the chance to talk to her about issues affecting our businesses.’’ said Christine.