Joanna Pitts from Mears Ashby near Northampton has joined Anglia Farmers (AF) the UK’s largest agricultural buying group, as a key account manager for Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire. She will recruit new members in the region and help farmers make the most of AF’s ’250 million buying power.
With a strong farming background, Mrs Pitts has a degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management. Since graduation in 1994, she has worked as a land agent, an account manager for Milk Marque and most recently as an independent farm secretary. Having reared pedigree Wensleydale sheep in the past, she now shows sheep for other breeders.
Married to arable farmer Andrew Pitts, their farming enterprise at Mears Ashby covers 1500 acres of wheat and oilseed rape. Their involvement with AF began when they became members of the group in 2003.
Now considered to be the largest agricultural buying group in the UK, AF employs more than 100 people. Buying sectors, managed by industry specialists, include all the main agricultural inputs such as seed, agrochemicals, fertiliser and livestock goods as well as farm machinery and fuel. The group also sources everything a farming business could need such as building materials, telecommunications, utilities including renewable energy and office equipment.
’As farming members AF is serving us very well,’ said Joanna Pitts. ’My role with them gives me the opportunity to help other farmers to benefit. We can source all our farming and business requirements at considerably lower prices than we could as an individual buyer. Apart from the considerable buying power advantage, the time saving element in shopping around for the best prices is equally useful.’
