AN award-winning Barrington farmer is close to finding out whether he has successfully managed to breed a one-of-a-kind shallot.

John Rowswell, of Baker’s Farm, hopes to become the world’s first certified shallot breeder with his famous Barrington banana shallots.

Named after their unusual shape, the sweet-tasting shallots have been cultivated on the 48-acre family farm for the past decade.

They have won John a host of agricultural prizes, including Somerset Food Producer of the Year for three successive years and South-West Champion in the UKTV food awards.

In order to be certified as a completely unique crop, the shallots had to withstand three years of rigorous testing at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture agency in Edinburgh.

But the wait could finally be over in August, when the government body delivers its verdict.

John said: “We’ve already been told there’s nothing like them in the world, it’s just a case of making it official.

“Not many people can say they’ve created something that’s going to be around for thousands of years.”

With more than 60 different types of vegetables grown on site, John has gained a national reputation for his specialist produce, such as elephant garlic, pink fir apple potatoes and red Jerusalem artichokes.

He has supplied some of the top restaurants in the country, including Taunton’s Castle Hotel, and caught the attention of Michelin-starred chefs Michael Caines and Raymond Blanc.

His next mission is to rival the French in their growing of garlic.

“Our crop this year is as good as anything you’d see in France,” he said.

“I reckon we have enough to supply the whole of the South-West!”