Two local farmers are proud owners of a ‘Rural Oscar’ after receiving their award as national champions in the Rural Enterprise category.

Mark Green and Sean Mason of the Herefordshire business Two Farmers Crisps based at Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye, won the award for developing a sustainable crisp brand using a biodegradable packet.

Second generation farmers, Mark and Sean grow, harvest, store, cook and pack their own crisps near Ross.

The pair even use 100 percent compostable packaging, which means their bags completely break down in a home composting environment over 26 weeks.

Both farmers have now been acknowledged as a ’Champion’ in this year’s Countryside Alliance Awards’ Rural Enterprise category.

Countryside Alliance Awards director Sarah Lee said: “Two Farmers Crisps have brought together two of the nation’s favourite passions – crisps and the environment. Farmers, Mark Green and Sean Mason, have developed a sustainable crisp brand using their own Herefordshire potatoes but their greatest invention is the fact they are the first crisp brand to use a 100% compostable packet which will biodegrade in just 26 weeks in a home composter. No longer do we need to worry about the impact our favourite snack is having on the environment.”

The 2019 Countryside Alliance Awards, also known as the Rural Oscars, were handed out to the top rural enterprises in the country by Defra minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble, on Wednesday, June 19th.