Our Heritage
Bruce Farms began farming in 1898 and after four generations of rearing livestock, planting, growing and harvesting crops we enter our 125th year. We are extremely proud of our heritage, this milestone and look forward to farming for the next 125 years and beyond.
W P Bruce
Starting out as a tenant farmer, WP Bruce (William) started farming in Perthshire in 1898 growing cereals, potatoes, and also rearing blackface sheep.
W T Bruce
W T Bruce (Willie) took over from his father at Balmyle Farm, Perthshire, in 1937, where operations for Bruce Farms are now based. He too enjoyed success with livestock, both cattle and sheep, while continuing to farm the land.
W P Bruce
W P Bruce (Bill) joined the family business in the 1950s, quickly diversifying the business into vining peas in the 1960s, and blackcurrants in 1981. Bill farmed Suffolk sheep and Shorthorn cattle before introducing the Charolais breed in 1969, building up the multi-award-winning Balmyle herd. In 2007, he oversaw the purchase of Dundee Cold Stores Ltd., and has been instrumental in the development and operations for this facility which processes over 30,000 tonnes of produce annually.
CGW Bruce
CGW Bruce (Geoff), Bill’s son, joined the company in 1993 as Director, quickly overseeing the introduction of soft fruit in 1996, and the building of a state-of-the-art Packing Hall which furthered capacity and improved efficiency. In 2007, he oversaw the purchase of Dundee Cold Stores Ltd. In 2018 Geoff further diversified the farm’s produce by investing in freeze-drying equipment, and driving the creation of the Podberry brand of freeze-dried pea snacks which launched in 2019.
Bruce Farms Timeline
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1898
W P Bruce began tenant farming in Perthshire at Greenburns Farm
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1908
Tenancy of Drumkilbo Farm
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1938
Tenancy of Balmyle Farm
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1960
Balmyle Farm purchased
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1967
Peas first grown
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1971
Drumkilbo Flock of Suffolk Sheep Dispersal Sale
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1975
Longleys Farm purchased
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1976
Drumkilbo Farm purchased
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1981
Blackcurrants first grown
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1986
South East Fullarton Farm purchased
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1990
Balmyle Shorthorn Herd Dispersed
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1996
Strawberries first grown
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1996
Cold Store 1 constructed
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2001
Viewbank Farm purchased
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2002
Broad Beans first grown
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2002
Raspberries first grown
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2005
Packing Hall constructed
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2007
Joint Purchase of Dundee Cold Stores Processing Factory
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2010
Creation of the “Bruce Farms” name
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2011
Hallyards Farm (south) purchased
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2012
Potatoes first grown in the Borders
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2012
Official pea supplier for the London Olympics
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2015
Glenluie Farm purchased
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2016
Langlogie Farm (north) purchased
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2017
Winners of the Scotland Food & Drink inaugural “Primary Producer of the Year” award and “Business of the Year” award, held at the EICC in Edinburgh
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2019
Launch of Podberry
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2019
Swinwood Mill Farm (west) purchased
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2023
125 Years of Farming
