YOU wouldn't know it to look at it today but the Clyde Valley was once famous for its tomatoes.

In the 1950s and 60s there were hundreds of growers and acres of industrial-sized greenhouses as far as the eye could see.

They produced enough tomatoes to feed the entire country, with enough left over for export but, gradually, cheaper imports from countries across the EU put all but three Scottish growers out of business.

The largest was J&M Craig but owner Jim Craig has finally retired after 40 years in the business that was launched by his grandfather in 1910. For almost a year, his state-of-the-art glasshouses have lain empty.

Now Scotland's languishing tomato industry will receive a major boost in a £100,000-plus rescue package, jointly funded by the Clydesdale Bank, South Lanarkshire Council and Scotherbs, the specialist growers based in Carse of Gowrie near Dundee.

Today, J&M Craig of Carluke will be re-branded Clyde Valley Tomatoes, with a new logo by Glasgow design agency Graven Images. It will be run by 32-year-old director David Craig (no relation), from Strathaven, who will use the three-year funding he has secured to rent glasshouses and grow up to 140 tonnes of tomatoes annually.

The three-year deal agreed this week, means David Craig has the option to buy out the group at the end of that period.

In January, 10,000 tomato seedlings will be planted, with the first harvest starting in April and lasting until November. He will focus on heritage varieties grown for flavour, along with innovative breeds from the Netherlands, such as black tomatoes.

The 12 types will include baby plums, yellow and red cherries, cocktail, large plums on the vine, and premium quality Scotch round varieties.

Mr Craig is in advanced talks with a variety of stockists, including Dobbies garden centres, Earthy Food Markets in Edinburgh and Whole Foods Market in Giffnock.

Clyde Valley Tomatoes will supply many of Scotland's top chefs and Mr Craig is also currently meeting with supermarkets. This week he applied for stalls at farmers' markets in Edinburgh and Glasgow's West End.

Jim Craig will mentor him in the art of growing tomatoes under glass without the use of pesticides.

Mr Craig, a marketing executive at Wholefoods in Giffnock, said: "I know it's going to be hard work but the time is ripe for this to happen, because the demand for locally-grown produce is massive and we need to grow more food in our own country.

"I have been overwhelmed by the support I've received from potential customers all over Scotland."