In pictures: Princess Royal delights on visit to Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods in Cambridgeshire

Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods (MFFF) in Landbeach hosted the Princess Royal last Thursday (18 September) for a showcase event aimed at inspiring the next generation and celebrating the future of UK farming.

Her Royal Highness was greeted by Julie Spence, Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, and welcomed by David and Brenda Mwanaka, the founders and directors of the business at Stanton Farm, off Landbeach Road.

The tour began with an overview of the impact of this year’s drought, as employees shared their first-hand experiences.

Princess Anne asked about the challenges farmers face, including water shortages, new crop diseases due to adverse weather, and crows, while noting that pigeons were considered “friends” to the crops.

During her visit, she also met an MFFF delivery driver en route to Aldershot, who explained the farm-to-table logistics from harvesting in the morning to delivering produce the same day across the mainland.

She also planted a peach tree to mark the occasion.

Ahead of the royal visitor, MFFF hosted a group of children from Milton Primary School for a farm tour.

David Mwanaka said: “The visit went very well and we were really overwhelmed. I’m just a farmer, I wasn’t expecting such an honour to have Her Royal Highness visiting us.

“It was the greatest experience we’ve ever had – I didn’t know that she was so down to earth. She’s so lovely and communicates well with people.

“I don’t know how she managed to read all the information sent to her, but by the time she came, she knew our names and what we do – it’s amazing.

“This year was probably the worst year we’ve ever had because of drought and this was the one bright thing in a terrible year.”

David Mwanaka grows white maize on the land, along with other exotic crops like horned melon and pumpkin leaves, that are popular with African, Indian, Vietnamese, and Mexican communities.

When Mr Mwanaka moved to the UK more than 20 years ago, he started growing traditional Zimbabwean vegetables on an allotment but as demand for his produce increased, he needed more space and rented small fields on informal arrangements.

In 2022, he secured a farm tenancy with Cambridgeshire County Council and now has almost 500 acres of land which offers security to grow his business on.