Find out why Ray Weymouth who has a stall at Taunton Farmers' Market is a true son of the soil

The former food technician swapped his work life in the laboratory for one on the land.

For the past 11 years, he has been the proud owner of Ray’s Veg which sells and array of fruit and vegetables which he grows himself and ones which are grown naturally without pesticides in Halse.

Working in food technology for Ray meant he checked food for major producers to make sure it was safe to eat.

For example he checked cheese to insure it did not have E coli and that the food we eat is safe to eat.

But his roots were firmly in farming and this is what deep in his heart he really wanted to do.

When he was a child, he grew up on a farm and this was this bond which he wanted to reconnect with and has done so in the past few years.

In order to get back to his roots he went to Cannington College in Bridgwater in order to learn which crops to sow, which order they should be grown and how to look after the soil.

He said: “I enjoy working outdoors and I like doing something more physical and be my own boss.

“I do not have any dependents and I thought if I did not give it a go now then when. 

“I started doing horticulture on a small scale by renting a field and getting help from farmers to plough it and make sure it was prepared well.

“I could see the potential of being market gardener and a market trader.

“I have been able to buy many own field with in six and a half acres and allows me to grow what I need.

“As a result I do two markets a week in Taunton and Wiveliscombe twice a week 52 weeks of the year.

“Year on year I have grown more and more as I have learnt what people want to buy and what they need.

“I now sell everything from potatoes, carrots, broccoli, salad beans, kale, runner beans, peppers and cabbages as well as eggs and fruit.

“It all amounts to 30-40 different vegetables.

“August is my quietest month on the stall but I am still busy planning ahead.

“At the moment I am weeding and picking as the next big crop will be in the Autumn.

“On the hottest day of the year so far in June I was planting Brussel Sprouts in preparation for Christmas Day."

Ray has learnt a lot during his 11 years and has like many farmers suffered his fair share of crop failures and harsh frosts which have killed his plants.

But he has never given up and said he anticipates a third of his crop each year to fail or be lost.

He said: “Last year there was a Diamond Bat Moth invasion which caused problems and a wet spring caused poor germination.

“Once you got your method in place then it helps to reduce the costs.

“You have to combine old fashioned methods with new methods such as using netting to stop plants being eaten.

“Nothing I grow or sell has been grown using pesticides, it is all grown organically and grown slower.

“Everything is then picked 24 hours before it is sold so it is as fresh as possible.”

One of the issues which Ray feels people are not aware of any more in the seasons.

Due to supermarkets selling produce from around the world all years round it means you can have strawberries in December as much as you can in June.

He said: “People need to appreciate the seasons.

“A lot of my customers are gardeners or growers but some people do need to be educated so they enjoy different vegetables and fruit at the right time of the year.

“If I can grow it I can sell it.

“It is a 24/7 job and can total 80 hours a week in the summer but this falls to 40 hours a week in the winter.

“It can be stressful but the most stress is in Christmas week.

“This is the one week of the year when I need to make sure everyone gets the vegetables they need.”

Ray said he loves what he does and has a passion for his work.

Explaining this, Ray said: “I enjoy being outside and I enjoy seeing the tangible results.

“You can get a lot more information off the Internet these days than when I started.

“If I had had all this information I would have been five years further ahead than I am now.

“I have someone working with me who wants to learn how to do they job and it is good to see their enthusiasm and their enjoyment.

“You have to treat the customer with respect and they will come back to you.

“On the same hand you should not assume if you grow it they will buy it.

“The main thing is always to be here on the correct days and the right time.”

You can find Ray’s Veg at the Farmer’s Market in Taunton every Thursday.

It is in the High Street from 9am to 3pm, year round.

You will find an array of other stalls each selling different goods such as meat, sausages, cakes, flowers, honey, free-range eggs, fruit, vegtables and regional cheeses, chutneys and jams.

And of course you can meet Ray Weymouth - a true son of the soil.