Wilfred Emmanuel Jones

The Black Farmer

Emmanuel-Jones is, in his words, ‘a poor boy, done good’.  He was born in Jamaica and then, after his parents came to the UK in the 50s, was raised in inner city Birmingham.  Unqualified but ambitious and persistent, he talked his way into television, becoming a producer/director for the BBC.  He is credited with bringing many of the top celebrity chefs to the small screen including Gordon Ramsay, Antony Worrall-Thompson, Brian Turner and James Martin, before founding a food and drink marketing company in London.  Wilfred subsequently fulfilled a lifelong ambition to purchase a small farm in Devon, and has been responsible for one of the most successful food brand launches in recent times in the UK with his own range of sausages and other meat products marketed under The Black Farmer® label. 

Flavours without Frontiers – the promise offered by his products also goes some way to sum up his personality.  He will not be confined by race, convention or tradition.  Wilfred’s strong opinions on issues such as rural affairs, justice for small producers and giving young people more opportunity have driven much media attention.  In 2005 he launched a young city farmers scheme through which young people from inner city communities are given the opportunity to experience what it is really like to live and work in the rural community.  Young City Farmers is run annually with the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester.