It could take two weeks for an Assize jury to decide whether Andrew Barette (39), the director of packhouse company Barette & Gruchy Ltd, and Ronald Green (71), Barette and Gruchy’s packhouse foreman, told growers they packed and shipped fewer of their potatoes than they actually did so that they could keep the extra money.
Barette & Gruchy Ltd are one of a number of packhouse companies run by the JPMO.
Once growers harvest their crop, potatoes are sent to Barette & Gruchy for sorting and shipping.
After the good crop is filtered, growers receive a ticket confirming exactly how much of their produce will be sent for sale in United Kingdom supermarkets.
Crown Advocate Beverley Lacey said that Mr Barette and Mr Green wrote lower numbers on more than 270 growers’ tickets, yet submitted correct numbers to the JPMO, who sort out payments.
The Crown argue that the men received full payment from the JPMO for the full potato shipment, yet passed on only the lower amount of remuneration to the growers.
