A Norfolk farm manager has been named a finalist in a contest to find the best young organic grower in the country.

Alex Parkinson works at RBOrganic, based at Houghton, between Fakenham and King's Lynn - one of the largest organic carrot growers in the UK.

From a non-farming, engineering background, he has risen rapidly in the company, firstly with a Sainsbury’s apprenticeship, then as tractor driver and assistant manager before becoming manager.

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Now he has made it through to the final of the national Young Organic Farmer/Grower of the Year Award, organised by Organic Research Centre (ORC).

Judges praised his understanding of organic principles and what they mean in practice, his leadership and staff management, and his attention to detail.

The other finalists are Adam Payne and Dee Butterley, who run a 10ha smallholding growing vegetables on an orchard-based agroforestry system in Pembrokeshire, and Sophie and Tom Gregory, who operate an organic dairy farm in Dorset.

The winner will be announced at the National Organic Conference in Shropshire on July 4.