Our Heritage

Bruce Farms began farming in 1898 and after four generations of rearing livestock, planting, growing and harvesting crops we celebrated our 125th year in 2023. We are extremely proud of this significant milestone and look forward to continuing our farming heritage for the next 125 years and beyond.

W P Bruce - Bruce Farms

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 - Bruce Farms

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 - Bruce Farms

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 bred Suffolk Sheep - the Drumkilbo Suffolk Sheep Flock at one point held the world record price for a Suffolk (Drumkilbo Duke) and also held the Gold Cup for the Champion Flock before the whole flock was dispersed in 1971. Bill had been president of the Suffolk Sheep Society. He also bred Shorthorn Cattle from the 1970’s to 1990. He used the Maine-Anjou breed to cross with and had the top price every year from 1983 – 1989. The Balmyle herd was dispersed in 1990. Then came the Balmyle Charolais Herd from the 1980’s until present day, including the World Record price for a Charolais (Balmyle Champion) in 1988. 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 40,000 tonnes of produce annually.

In 2024, Bill won the prestigious Sir William Young Award for exceptional contribution to Livestock Breeding at the Royal Highland Show.

CGW Bruce - Bruce Farms

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. Geoff was a Steward for the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) from 2014 -2018 and was on the Committee for Perth Racecourse until its amalgamation in 2023. He also sat on the Board of Scotland Food & Drink from 2011 – 2019.




Bruce Farms Timeline

  • 1898

    W P Bruce began tenant farming in Perthshire at Greenburns Farm

  • 1908

    Tenancy of Drumkilbo Farm

  • 1938

    Tenancy of Balmyle Farm

  • 1960

    Balmyle Farm purchased

  • 1967

    Peas first grown

  • 1971

    Drumkilbo Flock of Suffolk Sheep Dispersal Sale

  • 1975

    Longleys Farm purchased

  • 1976

    Drumkilbo Farm purchased

  • 1981

    Blackcurrants first grown

  • 1986

    South East Fullarton Farm purchased

  • 1990

    Balmyle Shorthorn Herd Dispersed

  • 1996

    Strawberries first grown

  • 1996

    Cold Store 1 constructed

  • 2001

    Viewbank Farm purchased

  • 2002

    Broad Beans first grown

  • 2002

    Raspberries first grown

  • 2005

    Packing Hall constructed

  • 2007

    Joint Purchase of Dundee Cold Stores Processing Factory

  • 2010

    Creation of the “Bruce Farms” name

  • 2011

    Hallyards Farm (south) purchased

  • 2012

    Potatoes first grown in the Borders

  • 2012

    Official pea supplier for the London Olympics

  • 2015

    Glenluie Farm purchased

  • 2016

    Langlogie Farm (north) purchased

  • 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

  • 2019

    Launch of Podberry

  • 2019

    Swinwood Mill Farm (west) purchased

  • 2023

    125 Years of Farming

  • 2024

    Bill Bruce won the Sir William Young Award for exceptional contribution to Livestock Breeding at the Royal Highland Show