Increasing interest in fresh prepared vegetables has caused another major English grower to set up a preparation factory. Next month a 77,000 sq ft facility costing £6m will be opened by Frederick Hiam at Brandon, Suffolk. It can trace its history back over 75 years and farms more than 9,000 acres. The factory will be able to process over 50,000 tonnes a year and initially will concentrate on ready to eat carrots, parsnips, onions and potatoes. Heading the team will be Derek Little (ex Geest), technical manager Helen Redfern (ex Heinz), and production manager Colin Harris from Knights, one of the major East Anglia root crop producers. {{M/E FRESH PRODUCE }}