New UK manager in Retrain Company

The Restrain Company (based in Cambridgeshire – Chatteris) , the ground-breaking creator of the Restrain ethylene antisprouting system for the potato and onion industry, has appointed James Thorburn as UK manager.

A fast-rising agronomist, still only 26, Thorburn is charged with promoting the system to British potato and onion growers, offering a reliable, safe, user-friendly and cost-effective way of stopping sprouting in-store while at the same time offering consumers a safe, residue-free product.

Thorburn studied at the Scottish Agricultural College in Aberdeen, gaining an HND in Agriculture and then securing a position as a trainee agronomist.  

Thorburn comes with five years experience of state-of-the-art production, storage and processing, including four years using the ethylene system and has been recruited by the Restrain Company to handle the marked increase in demand for Restrain.

 "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the adoption of Restrain in the UK," he says. "Now I've worked with it for four years, I'm seeing its potential for radically enhancing the UK market and improving agriculture.

 "It's not only about stopping sprouting," he adds of the system, developed entirely in the UK. "It's a complete package, from farm to retail, throughout the growing season. It has potential to increase the quality of product and lengthen the season for all potato and onion producers. And it's so easy to use as it's portable, just plugs in, and needs no modification to the stores."  

 He adds says that Restrain has now been approved for the storage of organic vegetables following discussions with a number of organic farming standards bodies.