Jewel-like Rhubarb & Ebbulient Asparagus

25/04/2022 | 0 Comments

A note from the Editor
What a glorious time of year!
“Unfurling” is the word that springs to mind every time I set foot outside of the front door. My garden is awash with buds which have decided that now is the right time to push themselves upwards, ready to burst open and display their beauty. 
​Alliums are about to rip open their covers and form mighty balls of purple, my ferns are exquisitely poised to curl open in limey-green fronds …even my toes have unfurled from their winter boots and socks and have dared to exhibit themselves with freshly painted nails on a couple of occasions! (no photos of those, you’ll be relieved to hear!)
​And in the farm shops, the offerings on the shelves are changing. More colour, more juicy rows of farm-fresh vegetables and a riotous rainbow of seasonal produce.
​Red, pink and green rhubarb stalks are glossy and vibrant, promising that shock of delicious tangy fruit flavour when cooked with sugar and topped with crumble (my favourite, can you tell?!).
from ” Farmersgirl Kitchen” click for more rhubarb recipes
​Originally from China, rhubarb was first imported as a medicinal plant and prized as much as rubies, satins and pearls. The name comes from the Latin word “rhababarum” meaning “root of the barbarians”. Jewel-like in appearance, I can see why it was so desired and, if I don’t add quite enough sugar, the children tend to screech like barbarians when served their pudding.
​Another glorious seasonal addition is the bundles of asparagus spears which have worked hard to push themselves up through the soil. 
Asparagus grown and on sale at Groombridge Farm Shop in Kent
​The green shoots are true pioneers and harbingers of early summer. During a sunny day, you can almost hear them growing (sometimes up to 10cm in one day!) Cut them in the morning and they’ll be another one growing by the evening. No wonder the season is short – it must be exhausting to be asparagus. 
But perhaps because the season is so short, it highlights everything that is good about buying and enjoying seasonal veg and needs to be SHOUTED about – 
Get it now!
It’s only here for a few weeks!
Picked this morning!  
Give me an A…give me an S.. give me a P …
​Let’s cheerlead for these short-lived stars of our farm shops. Display them with pride, shout about them on social media and get the shoppers ringing the date on their calendars each year… 

Featured Farm Shop – Gloucestershire
Jolly Nice Farm Shop

21/04/2022 | 0 Comments

It’s hard to say the name of this farm shop without smiling.
​Jolly nice by name and jolly nice by nature. 
​This Gloucestershire farm shop, the brainchild of third generation farmers, Simon and Rebecca, was founded for a more sustainable, happier future. They prioritise the wellbeing of their livestock and their land, championing old fashioned, sustainable rare breed livestock and farming methods.
​And with this ethos at the forefront of everything they do, the shop has thrived. They regularly feature beautiful local produce and succulent meat and publicise its provenance.
​They believe, that with each season, it is important to adapt eating habits to live in tune with nature’s calendar and, if you shop at this fabulous farm shop, this is not hard to do. The fresh and seasonal produce is grown by local farmers and micro producers just a few miles down the road:
​Celeriac and Potatoes are produced by Farmer Fred from Close Farm – 8 miles away.
Kale, Turnips and Winter Salad are produced by Purton House Organics – 18 miles away.
Savoy Cabbage, Leeks and Purple Sprouting Broccoli are produced by Paget’s Produce – 28 miles away.
​But there are plenty of “extras” to fill your basket with. Why not try their award-winning ice cream whilst visiting? Their salted caramel and gooseberry & elderflower have both won the highest accolade in the food world – each gaining 3 Gold Stars at the Great Taste Awards.
​Or perhaps quench your thirst with a shot of Sicilian blood orange juice.
​Another reason to smile is that you can enjoy a lot of what Jolly Nice Farm Shop has to offer without even leaving your car! During the pandemic, they came up with the genius idea of introducing a “drive through”.
​Built within 8 weeks of the first Covid lockdown, it helped keep customers safe and staff employed. On the menu is the beef brisket burger, pulled mushroom burger, triple cheese & caramelised onion sourdough toastie and grass-fed beef & fennel meatball sourdough toastie. Yum…
And this wonderful addition won Jolly Nice farm shop the title of 
‘Best Rural Innovation’ in the Southwest regional finals of the @ruralbusinessawards
This has encouraged the owners to expand the drive-through and work is underway to create a new area with a state-of-the-art production kitchen to ensure they produce food of the highest quality in a few minutes plus the addition of seating in a cosy yurt and unique “Lambing Shed”. This should all be ready soon – mid Spring.
​What a jolly nice idea!
Open every day from 8am to 7pm
Jolly Nice Farm Shop
Cirencester Rd,
Frampton Mansell,
Stroud
GL6 8HZ
​01285 760868
www.jollynicefarmshop.com

Featured Farm Shop – Devon
Stokeley Farm Shop & Café

17/03/2022 | 0 Comments

Words and photographs supplied by Stokeley Farm Shop
Nestled behind the natural beauty of Slapton Ley, serving locals and visitors alike, an unmatched range of fantastic produce, featuring over 70 Devon producers and suppliers, you will find Stokeley…
And as they like to say, “so much more than a Farm Shop!” ‘though you will definitely enjoy all the fantastic fresh and local produce on offer including: artisan cheeses, freshly baked bread, fruit, veg, a wonderful selection of groceries, wines, and other provisions and, not to forget, the award-winning butchery counter.
​Quite simply, a fabulous array of foodie choice and all available to be delivered to your home, if you live in the local area.
​And, if that’s not enough to tempt you to visit, there is a seasonal garden centre, a collection of retail outlets featuring local artists, makers fashion brands and a lifestyle interiors store!
The Café is locally renowned for its wood fired pizza oven and the scrumptious Sunday lunches that are, more than regularly, sold out. And if you are in the mood for something a little stronger than tea and coffee… the South Hams Drinks Tap House is on site, showcasing their award-winning ales, ciders and soft drinks too.
​With regular live events throughout the year and a summer festival that delights in welcoming and entertaining everyone, you know that time spent at Stokeley is time well spent – for all the family.
​You’ll find Stokeley just off the beaten track between Kingsbridge and Torcross – off the A379 near Slapton Ley. And if you would like to get to know more about this beautiful part of the South Hams, you can even hire e-bikes here during the summer season.
​Be sure to pay us a visit this year…
Opening Times:
Monday to Sunday        9am – 5pm
Stokeley Barton Farm
Stokenham
Nr Slapton
Devon
TQ7 2SE
Shop telephone: 01548 581605
Café telephone: 01548 581321
www.stokeleyfarmshop.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Northumberland
The Nook Farm Shop & Café

14/03/2022 | 0 Comments

​The Nook is the ideal name for this beautiful farm shop nestled below the Epiacum Roman Fort site, 2 miles north of Alston in Cumbria (just over the Northumberland border). It opened in 2019 and is well supported by the local community as well as the visitors passing through to see the Roman remains.
​The ethos of the shop and café is to serve and promote the local area and with this is mind, The Nook sells fresh and frozen local produce both to take home and to eat on site. There is a well-stocked meat fridge full of locally farmed beef, lamb and pick and mix meat packs, a mouth-watering display of home-made cakes, ploughman’s scones and scotch eggs (they are not bound by border lines at The Nook!) and local honey (which sells out quickly so be warned!)
​The café looks like the ideal spot in which to hunker down after a climb to the ruins of the fort which has been described as “the best-preserved Roman fort in the Empire”. Epiacum is the Roman name for Whitley Castle and the site has been extensively researched by English Heritage and been classified as the “most significant monument in the region“.
​Whether it’s the fort or the scotch eggs that bring you to this spot, you will be guaranteed a warm welcome at The Nook.
Opening hours: 
Every day    9am to 4.30pm
The Nook Farm Shop & Café
Epiacum Roman Fort
Kirkhaugh, Alston
CA9 3BG
07415 029398
www.thenookfarmshop.com

join the food waste movement…

28/02/2022 | 0 Comments

Fabulous Farm Shops are delighted to announce they have partnered up with the sustainability app “Too Good to Go” to help farm shops and producers attract new consumers and fight food waste. 
Every year, UK food businesses waste 100,000 tonnes of surplus food – but there is a way to help combat this…
The concept is simple.
​
The ‘Too Good To Go’ app lets businesses sell surplus food to local customers to save it from going to waste.
The individual business updates the app at the end of the day to show how much surplus food they have to sell.
​It’s as easy as that!

Customers can then search the app for local stores, purchase the food via the app (buying a surprise ‘Magic Bag’ of surplus food), then pick it up at a time set by the store.
​There’s no need for stores to predict what won’t sell; rather than listing individual portions of food, they can simply load Magic Bags with whatever is left over that day, setting a price that is fair for them and the customer.

So far, UK food businesses have sold almost 10 million Magic Bags, recouping costs and meeting new customers at the same time. There are currently 7 million app users and 20,000 food businesses creating Magic Bags out of food that would otherwise be wasted at the end of the day.​
Our farm shop members & ‘A’ list producer members can join this movement and benefit from having their first year’s administration fee of £39 waived.
Just click HERE to get started and Freddie from ‘Too Good To Go’ will help you through the simple steps to get you up and running.
Read on to hear the Too Good To Go story.. 
​Too Good To Go has an ambitious goal: to inspire and empower everyone to fight food waste, while proving that it’s possible for businesses to thrive with social good at their core.

​The problem is simple: too much food is being thrown away. It happens at stores and restaurants everywhere, from fresh sandwiches sitting in rubbish bags behind cafes, to steaming trays of untouched buffet fare being tipped directly into bins. It’s all delicious, made to be enjoyed – but it’s getting wasted instead.
​At the same time, food waste is putting the planet under enormous strain. Entire forests are cleared to grow produce that will never be eaten, and scientists have discovered how food releases harmful greenhouse gases when it’s disposed of unsustainably.
It raises the discussion: if our food is putting the planet under so much strain, why are we throwing so much of it away? That’s the question several entrepreneurs around Europe – from Paris to Copenhagen to Leeds – were asking when, in 2016, they joined forces to create Too Good To Go.                
​It’s a free app that people can use to buy unsold food that would otherwise be wasted. Users get delicious meals at a great price, businesses recover costs, and the planet has less wasted food to deal with – it’s a win-win-win.

​At Too Good To Go, they believe that sustainable options should be easy and fun. They should make the planet a happier place, and they should be accessible to everyone.
​They also believe that, despite how big and complicated it is, food waste is a problem we can solve together. That’s why they’re working with changemakers across society – from politicians to school children – to drive a movement that puts an end to the world’s most senseless problem.
Download the app now

Featured Farm Shop – Cornwall
Bailey’s Country Store & Farm Shop

27/02/2022 | 0 Comments

Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, just off the Penryn River, you will find Bailey’s Country Store and Farm Shop. In 2006, the country store began by supplying animal feed and pet supplies to the people of Penryn but it has now grown and adapted and introduced a farm shop providing locals and visitors with beautiful, tasty, local food.
​An independent family run business, the shop is a welcoming, friendly place to do your shopping and the staff pride themselves on having time to chat and offer their own opinion on the goods that are for sale.
​These include everything from scrumptious freshly baked breads, delicious locally grown seasonal fruit and veg, free range local meats and eggs, through to jams, chutneys and rapeseed oils, Cornish cheeses and local alcohol.
Online sales are also encouraged and the seasonal veg, salad or fruit boxes have proved very popular, helping to make things a little more straight forward when ordering online. The farm shop is lucky to have fantastic local growers who provide delicious seasonal fresh vegetables and fruit daily.
The provenance of the meat counter is also transparent with free-range chicken coming from Keith Wickett (chicken how it used to taste!), free-range pork, sausages and bacon from Bill and Sally of Primrose Herd and a weekly selection of seasonal game – venison, rabbit, pheasant and partridge from Duchy Game.
​Some items on sale might be from a little further afield but the single malt whisky handcrafted on the edge of Dartmoor, just over the border in Devon, was too good not to stock.
​With a huge selection of goods to make your mouth water, make sure you plan a trip to Bailey’s if you are in the Falmouth area…and if your visit happens to coincide with lunch time, then maybe Simon’s home reared free range pulled pork, with apple sauce and stuffing or coleslaw on a delicious ciabatta roll will sort you out. It looks absolutely delicious!
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 8am – 5.30pm
Saturday 8am – 5pm
Bailey’s Country Store & Farm Shop
Unit 2, Eastwood Park,
Eastwood Road,
Penryn,
TR10 8LA
01326 379888
online@baileyscountystore.co.uk
www.baileyscountrystore.co.uk

back in the real world – Source Exeter

14/02/2022 | 0 Comments

After nearly two years of online meetings and phone calls, what a joy to be out in the real world at a trade show once again. Packing all the show paraphernalia into the car and booking our hotel caused a certain buzz of expectation but nothing compared to the excitement of being back behind our little stand, ready to face the public.

The
SOURCE TRADE SHOW
was on
​9th and 10th February
at Westpoint, Exeter
​in DEVON
..and it wasn’t just me glad to be out and about again – every face I saw seemed to be smiling. It was wonderful to catch up with familiar contacts and great to meet lots of new producers and farm shop owners all keen to chat and find common ground.

​One of our fab A – list producers was there, Rosemullion Distillery, and we had a good catch up.

​It was great to sample the new flavour from another A lister, Marshfield Farm Ice Cream. Caramelised biscuit, if you’re asking….
Tired but exhilarated, we’re back in the office and following up on all the new contacts we made. Looking forward to doing it all again in June at the next Source Roadshow in Bristol. Will we see you there? 

A note from the editor  –  January 2022

24/01/2022 | 0 Comments

Keep doing what you’re doing

New Year, New You…. Veganuary…. Dry January…. Thank Goodness it’s nearly February and the reformists can leave us alone to carry on living the way we want to live!
​I gave up nothing new in January but continued to stuff as much cardboard and plastic into my recycling bin as I could, eat as many of my five a day as I could manage and not have too many gin-soaked evenings after a hard day of graft. I know I could do more to eat healthily and to reduce my impact on the planet, but I am doing the best that I can. The choices surrounding us are multi-faceted and nothing is a quick, simple fix.​
​Marks & Spencer’s recent advert for a vegan ready- meal made the claim that skipping meat for one day has the same impact on your carbon footprint as not using your car for a week. Really? Where’s the proof… based on what sized car? diesel or electric? doing how many journeys a week? Compared to imported beef from where? Or a chicken from the local farm shop? Marketing propaganda can be a dangerous rabbit hole down which to fall!

Picture

​​You don’t need to read Einstein to know that relativity is important. One article I encountered even had me questioning whether a tomato is an ethical choice… if that tomato is grown in Spain in an unheated greenhouse and then flown over here, is it more sustainable than a UK grown tomato that has blossomed and swelled in a heated greenhouse? STOP already and let me eat my salad!
​Farm shops can be proud to shout about their ethics and maintain their customers’ trust by highlighting where their food has come from whether that is organic meat from animals that are happy and healthy and grazing in the field next door to their shop, or a good old British leek pulled from the mud a few miles down the road.

Picture

​​I still live by the old adage “a little of what you fancy does you good” so meat, veg, chocolate and gin will continue to be a part of my diet. The jargonists can call me a flexitarian or a vegi-vore or whatever new-fangled word it is next month but knowing where my meat comes from and eating seasonal fruit and veg is good enough for me… maybe with the odd imported avocado – on my birthday!

Featured Farm Shop – Merseyside
Forster’s Farm Shop

17/01/2022 | 0 Comments

Words and Photographs supplied by Forster’s Farm Shop
​We are a fifth-generation, family-run, organic farm. Although within our Farm Shop we specialise in our own organic beef and lamb, we have many other delicious foods to offer.
​We pride ourselves on the organic beef and lamb produced here. Our animals graze our organic pastures and you will often see them in the fields as you drive in.
​In 2000, we made a decision to ‘go organic’. Initially it was a business decision, but we have come to realise how beneficial this way of farming is to both the land and our animals and, therefore, the quality of our produce. We are determined to showcase not only our organic beef and lamb but other products we make ourselves including sausages, burgers and dry cured bacon.
​Our policy is ORGANIC whenever possible, then free range and, just as important, local. As a result, we sell from other producers, for example, quality free-range chicken and pork, delicious artisan jams, relishes, chutneys, cheeses, biscuits, puddings…. the list goes on.
​Job satisfaction is a marvellous thing and to us that is why customer experience is very important. For someone to come to the farm and enjoy our produce means the world to us and makes the team here very proud.
​St. Helens is often thought of as an industrial town, but it has much more to offer. You will be surprised and delighted by this gem of a place!
​Our aim is to make your visit to Shoots Delph Farm memorable – by taking away something to enjoy at home – delicious foods with great provenance.
​For 2022, we plan to extend our range of products and to concentrate on suppliers who are artisan producers and who have an eco-mindset ie. their products are environmentally sustainable with recyclable packaging.
​First and foremost, we are farmers but we are proud of the food we produce and our shop is the perfect place to show what we do.
​We look forward to welcoming you to Forster’s Farm Shop.
“From our family to your family- food you can trust.”
Opening Hours:
​​Thursday 9 – 5
Friday 9- 3
Saturday 9- 3
Sunday to Wednesday    CLOSED
Forster’s Farm Shop
Shoots Delph Farm
​Moss Bank, St. Helens
WA11 7NU
07944 664523
organicchris@yahoo.co.uk
www.forstersfarmshop.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – West Yorkshire
Rhubarb Triangle Farm Shop

10/01/2022 | 0 Comments

​This curiously-named farm shop comes with a wonderful story of evolution, as well as a fabulous selection of delicious local produce.
​The Dobson family have been farming in Carlton since 1815 and in the early years the farm had livestock as well as crops. The farm served the local community with vegetables for over five generations and, as the farm grew in size, it supplied the local markets, the national markets and then the supermarkets. ​
The buildings, which now form the farm shop, were used to house the cows.
​The animals were housed on the ground floor and the straw and hay stored above. John Edward Dobson forced some of the first ever Yorkshire rhubarb in the hay loft above the cows, using the rising heat from the cows to force the rhubarb and bring it to market early.
Fast-forward a couple of hundred years and the buildings were no longer fit for agricultural use so Simon Dobson and his management team felt it was quite fitting that they should be refurbished and used to sell meats and dairy products and, as they played such a major part in the history of Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, they decided to call it The Rhubarb Triangle Farm Shop.
They take pride in offering great Yorkshire produce. Their suppliers are carefully selected so that they only stock goods they can recommend. Their deli is filled with fresh, locally produced goodies keeping food miles to a real minimum and helping to fulfil their mission statement…
‘Our aim is your satifaction’
They stock free-range eggs from their own hens, fresh breads from Boulby’s of Horbury, cheeses from The Yorkshire Dales Cheese Company, flapjacks and tiffin from Lottie Shaw’s of Halifax, frozen seafood from Chapman’s at Grimsby, Stickey’s local honey produced from bees on their own land and, of course, a huge choice of meat.
Their onsite butchery features fantastic cuts as well as their increasingly popular homemade kebabs, sausages and burgers. Beef is from their own farm and also from Hartshead Moor, and is hung and matured for a minimum of 21 days. Their lamb is from the rolling hills of Yorkshire too. Pork and chicken is also local.
​So it certainly isn’t just about the rhubarb….
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday                             8.30am – 5.30pm
Saturday                                                  8.30am – 5pm
Sunday & Bank Holiday Mondays          10am – 4pm
The Rhubarb Triangle Farm Shop
Green End Farm
Carlton, Wakefield
​WF3 3QR
0113 288 7034
info@therhubarbtrianglefarmshop.co.uk
​www.therhubarbtrianglefarmshop.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Devon
Thornes Farm Shop & Cafe

3/01/2022 | 0 Comments

​Thornes Farm Shop is situated in the heart of Devon just outside the town of Crediton. Well known for their P.Y.O soft fruits of strawberries & raspberries and also their monthly family events.
Being a traditional working farm, Thornes supply the south west with homegrown veg of cauliflowers, different varieties of cabbages, beetroot, kale, potatoes, squashes and pumpkins. Working with the seasons so you can always be guaranteed fresh quality veg in the shop.
​Thornes are big supporters of stocking local produce & products which range from cider, wine, honey, ice-creams, charcoal and much more.
​You’ll find every type of sausage imaginable in the farm shop, all locally sourced.
​There’s ​an amazing selection of gifts available, all made and produced by local artists and artisans within the mid Devon area.
​
Thornes cafe can get full to bursting on weekends as the most popular dish is the full English breakfast. All food is cooked fresh to order and use locally sourced ingredients.
​Café opening hours are Mon-Sat 9-4pm.
 
​​You are always greeted with a warm welcome at Thornes and nothing is ever too much trouble.
​
Farm Shop Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat   9am-5pm
Thornes Farm Shop
Hawthorn Gardens
Stockleigh Pomeroy
Crediton
EX17 4BH
01363 866933
hello@thornesfarmshop.co.uk
www.thornesfarmshop.co.uk

Product Review – Pocket Mountains Ltd

10/12/2021 | 0 Comments

We were very happy to receive a rainbow stack of little Pocket Mountains to review and they made our mouths water and our imaginations fire at the possibility of adventure.
The size is absolutely perfect for slipping in your handbag if you are taking your children on a day out or into your backpack if you are more of a rambler. The covers of these special little books are covered in beautiful illustrations, highlighting a particular gem for the relevant county, so Somerset shows Glastonbury Tor, Dorset has a glorious Durdle Door painting, the Yorkshire Dales a village nestled in the hills … tempting you to open the guide and dive in.
​Inside you’ll find a very generous selection of town and country walks each with an illustrated map (usually a circular route) and very clear instructions of how to get there, where to park and which way to turn but the highlights, for me, are the nuggets of interesting facts which accompany your walk whether it’s a blast of history or a fabulous factoid which will make your visit come alive (and keep those accompanying you following happily!)
​These are beautifully accessible guides and genuinely written to appeal to all ages. The language is succinct yet inspiring and the variety of walk lengths means there really is something for everyone included in each edition whether it’s city visits or countryside rambles that are your thing.
​Pocket Mountains started their range of books back in 2003 and have sold over 150,000 copies of their Scottish range. Since then they have published cycling, easy walking, wildlife and running guides to various parts of Scotland, England and Wales. Over 50 guides are now available written by a variety of authors and their love for their chosen part of the country is apparent in their books. 
​Given the current times we live in, the desire to stay local has surged and we think that having a couple of these guides on your bookshelf can only be a positive step (excuse the pun). I would be inclined to keep a local one in the glove box of my car to whisk out when the time allowed. The team also felt that they would make glorious gifts or stocking fillers and they won’t break the bank. Why not pop one in your basket next time you’re at your local farm shop?

image from www.stufftheireyeswithwonder.com

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review then please get in touch with the team.

Featured Farm Shop – Worcestershire
Bell’s Farm Shop

24/11/2021 | 0 Comments

​Here’s a farm shop that has evolved from the land that stocks it. Originally a Pick Your Own farm founded by the Bell family over 50 years ago, the shop was added so that customers could choose whether they “pick their own” or pop into the shop and buy produce already harvested.
​
​The 40 acre farm produces a fabulous array of different fruit and vegetables and you can still get your hands dirty and PYO. Their seasonal offerings look mouth-wateringly delicious from corn on the cob and cauliflowers to pears, apples and plums.
​The shop itself, thriving under the Colwill family who acquired the farm in 1987, is also home to Little Black Pig butchery with a meat counter filled to bursting with succulent fillets and chops.
​They are proud to champion local producers and stock wine, beer, cider, spirits, cheese, cream, milk, bread, jams, chutneys, cakes, biscuits and ice cream. Phew! That’s a good list.
​Continuing its evolution, a pop up café has recently sprung up in a large marquee next to the farm shop where you can take the weight off your feet after your picking or shopping adventures and enjoy a warm coffee and a slice of something tempting.
Open 9am-5pm 7 days a week
Bell’s Farm Shop
Chadwick Bank
​Stourport-On-Severn
DY13 9SA
01299 251364
christine@bellsfarmshop.co.uk
www.bellsfarm.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Cambridgeshire
Radmore Farm Shop

22/11/2021 | 0 Comments

Who doesn’t like a good boy meets girl story?
​ And here, the happy ending is Radmore Farm Shop…
When Ben (a self-confessed city boy) met Vicky (a Northamptonshire farm girl) they shared a vision – to bring the best of the farm into the city and this vision is now their reality with a bricks and mortar farm shop in the heart of Cambridge. Alongside all the hard work, they have three small children and a shop filled with smiles.
Their mission is to source the best possible food from neighbouring farms and small companies who share their passion for quality and sustainability and to offer convenient, friendly service with an “old-fashioned” feel whether that be to the customers popping into the shop or to those having their produce delivered to their home.
Also passionate about zero-waste, they have introduced a booming refill service where customers can bring in their own containers and fill up with an impressive list of household essentials:
Breakfast cereals, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, herbs and spices, rice and grains, household cleaning products and toiletries (shampoo, conditioner and soap).
Amazingly, Vicky still finds time to bake the cakes, pies and quiches that you will find in the bakery section of the shop and to write a blog where she shares tried and tested recipes from her own family kitchen. If only she could bottle her energy and put it in the refill section – I’d be there with a big drum to fill!
Opening Hours:
​Monday to Friday : 9.00am – 6.45pm
Saturday : 10.00am – 5.30pm
Sunday : 11.00am – 4.00pm
Radmore Farm Shop​
8-10 Victoria Ave
Cambridge
​CB4 1EH
​01223 361155
radmorefarm@outlook.com
www.radmorefarmshop.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Kent
Flint and Oak

18/11/2021 | 0 Comments

​Located at the gateway to the “garden of England”, it might not be surprising to learn that the farm shop known as Flint & Oak has access to a plethora of locally sourced fruit and vegetables which they select from the market each morning. However, not everyone would know that they personally taste all of their products and, if they don’t taste great, they simply don’t stock them!
​They want their customers to know that they can personally vouch for what’s on their shelves and the knowledge, expertise and passion of all who work there probably contributed greatly to Flint & Oak being awarded “Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year 2020”.
feedback from a very happy customer
​Respecting the seasons is high on their list of priorities so there is always a changing array of produce in the shop and because it is locally sourced, you won’t see plastic wrapping swaddling the vegetables.
​It all started with bunches of asparagus sold from a small market stall at the edge of the current site but, as local demand grew, Flint & Oak evolved into the shop and deli that it is today, housed in the old milking parlour on the Squerryes Estate.
​There is even a small café with its own garden overlooking the vineyard which – an idyllic place to sit on a sunny day.
​The list of goodies to tempt you in the farm shop is long and luscious.
​Freshly baked bread and pastries, including a note-worthy marmite sausage roll which is handcrafted using free-range pork and puff pastry.
​The cheese counter is stuffed to bursting with over 50 English cheeses made from ewe, goat or cow’s milk, some of them oozing deliciously across the platter, and as members of the “Academy of Cheese” the knowledgeable staff know what they’re talking about.
​Add to that the Kent craft beers (made right next door to the shop, continuing Westerham’s 400-year-old brewing heritage), dessert wines and port, an array of pickles and chutneys, jams and marmalades, oils and preserves and you will find it hard not to be impressed.
There’s even been a late addition of a coffee machine, in the shop itself, if the bean is your Holy Grail!
Open 7 Days a Week.
10am – 5pm: Monday to Saturday
10am – 4pm: Sunday

Café open Friday to Sunday 8.30 – 4pm

Flint and Oak
The Old Milking Parlour
Beggars Lane
Westerham
TN16 1QP
01959 562345
info@flintandoak.co.uk
www.flintandoak.shop

Featured Farm Shop – Bristol
Holcombe Farm Shop & Kitchen

17/11/2021 | 0 Comments

30 minutes from Bath, between Radstock and Shepton Mallet, lies the picturesque village of Holcombe. Beside the River Mells, you’ll find The old Duke of Cumberland pub which has recently metamorphosed into a fabulous little farm shop and kitchen.
​The farm shop itself is small but beautifully formed and the shelves and fridges are jam-packed with fresh, local produce and everyday essentials – fresh bread, local milk (bring your own bottle!) fruit and veg, a delicious selection of cheese and chutneys not to mention the fully stocked butcher’s counter or the counter full of homemade cakes and pastries and, if there’s room in your basket, why not add a bottle of wine or local cider. Here you’ll find all the ingredients for a blow out breakfast or the perfect Sunday roast.
​If filling your basket has taken it out of you then you can always put your feet up next to the river on the adjoining terrace where the Farm Shop Kitchen has seating. Freshly cooked food is served here all day or just coffee and cake if you have other plans for dinner! Free wifi too ….
​Local is celebrated at this “gem of a place” (a recent customer’s words). Beautiful flowers come from 3rd generation farmer @stuarttheflowerman, meat from local farmers, pies from Dickies (made 2 minutes away by 35 year experienced curry chef, Iain Dickie) and milk from under 2 miles away.
​Baskets are by the door… happy shopping!
Monday – Wednesday   9am til 5pm
Thursday – Saturday   9am til 9pm
Sunday   9am til 6pm
​Holcombe ​Farm Shop
Edford Hill
Holcombe
​Radstock
BA3 5HQ
01761 233 731
www.holcombefarmshop.co.uk
hello@holcombefarmshop.co.uk

Product Review – Rosemullion Distillery

16/11/2021 | 0 Comments

​​Have you ever had a job where you have had to pinch yourself because you can’t quite believe how great it is? I had that feeling last week when I was told that we had been sent a beautiful box of 3 different rums from a small artisan distillery in Cornwall (Rosemullion Distillery) and it was our job to taste them and write a review… darn it… and I was washing my hair that night!
​Not much of a rum-drinker myself, I deferred to our team of seasoned tasters and together we created a mini questionnaire to try and keep us to the job in hand. I ordered a few mixers, filled the freezer with ice and polished all the wine glasses we owned (who knew that sipping neat rum from wine glasses and swirling it around the glass helps to distinguish the look and smells of the rum? Have I mentioned how much I love my job?)
​Sunday night, the group gathered and the rums were unveiled. I am not exaggerating when I say that there were loud exclamations and even a couple of squeals when I lifted the lid of the box to show the exquisite bottles that Rosemullion has created in which to store the rum. These bottles are literally breath-taking. 
​The shape is truly caressable with a hefty cork stopper that makes a very pleasing pop when opened. The beautiful logo whirls around the front of the bottle with the liquor glistening behind it. Immediately your mouth begins to water at the very sight of them and I can imagine such happy noises emanating from any lucky recipient of these bottles at Christmas or a special occasion. They would look enchanting lined up on your shop shelf with the light glinting through them.
First up was the DARK RUM…..
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​We got down to business and poured out a small portion in the enormous glasses and noses sniffed, eyes closed and hands clasped round the bowl of the glass and whirled the golden-brown liquid around. Notes were made…
​Rich, elegant, sumptuous were the adjectives used for the appearance of this particular nectar. Smells conjured up were smoky caramel, brown sugar and rich sweet burnt oak.
And then we sipped… 
​Neat this rum is powerful and warming. The first sip rather takes your breath away but not unpleasantly so – it simply paves the way for a second, kinder more flavoursome sip as your taste buds acclimatise to the alcohol. It was warming and delicious and conjured up images of log fires and warm toes, a Caribbean holiday or a hip flask on bonfire night with some magical fireworks popping in the dark sky.
​I’d say it was a good start!
​Some mixed it simply with ice, some with coke and some with ginger ale and the unanimous verdict was “very drinkable”. All hands went up for buying it as a gift (and most secretly hoped they’d be getting it in their own stockings this Christmas).
​A bit of bread to clear the palate, fresh glasses and we moved on to the next beautiful bottle – the WHITE RUM.
Clear and crisp and 43% ABV, it’s not surprising that the smell of this rum when neat is pretty strong. We picked up slight floral tones but most of us needed a mixer. This is designed as a mixing rum and so it was my absolute pleasure to whip out my trusty sugar syrup, squeeze a few limes and get all Tom Cruise with my cocktail shaker. Mojitos all round with mint and more clean glasses (the washing up was EPIC) 
​That’s the way to drink it… this rum conjured up images of summer evenings, salsa dancing in Cuba, sandy toes and lapping waves, first kisses and calypso (that’s some rum!)
​Everyone was still standing and raring to move on to the third member of the trio.

The music was turned up and we unboxed the CHOCOLATE RUM.

This was presented cocooned in a stunning black box with two handmade ceramic cups to drink from.

These are thermal vessels which stop the ice from melting into the drink and diluting the rum.

​It’s a lovely presentation pack and could be a fabulous centre piece for a shop display.
​​Pulling out the stopper and pouring it into our glasses, we could see that the liquid was rich and inviting with a buttery orange colour. The smell was lush and smoky although not many could grasp the chocolate hues. Rich and dark, one taster was thrilled by it neat, exclaiming that he had found a superior substitute for dessert wine. We tried it with a side offering of dark chocolate and this went down very well. 
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​A couple of us added it to black coffee which warmed us from the inside out but mixed with coke and ice was probably the winning move. A simple rum and coke and we were transported to a Caribbean sunset, sitting by the dock of a bay, everyone smiling!
​I can sum up the tasting as a joyous affair.
​The rum was delicious, the presentation exquisite and the washing up extensive.
​If I was choosing what to put on my shelves this month, I would certainly be making a space for these beautiful bottles of Cornish pleasure but, if you still need help deciding which to stock, then can I direct you to the miniature gift box – one for every day of the week (and two for Friday!)
To buy direct then click here.
Or if you would like to become a stockist of one or all of Rosemullion’s products then please contact them by email or call a member of their team on the links below.

enquiries@rosemulliondistillery.com
01326 702202
www.rosemulliondistillery.com

Featured Farm Shop – Oxfordshire
Wykham Park Farm Shop

15/11/2021 | 0 Comments

​Set amongst 800 acres of arable land, permanent grass and woodland lies Wykham Park.
It all began in the 1980s with an honesty box at the farm gate and excess potatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn and onions being sold to the public. In 2000, a bricks and mortar farm shop replaced the honesty box and more recently the farm’s production has evolved with the introduction of asparagus, pedigree Longhorn cattle, a flock of Suffolk ewes and even a market garden, producing seasonal fruit and vegetables.
​The farm shop is open every day and the produce is as fresh as can be with vegetables literally going straight from the field to the plate. The season starts with spinach, peas, broad beans, spring greens and runner beans from the market garden topped up with a selection of wonderful giant tomatoes, basil, cucumbers and peppers from the polytunnel. As the leaves start to fall, the shelves are filled with autumn cabbages, leeks, beetroot and carrots and of course, pumpkins and squashes.
​Other root vegetables which aren’t grown on the farm come from a couple of growers near Oxford.
​This long-standing family of growers see environmental responsibility and sustainability as being at the heart of what they do and this goes hand in hand with producing great tasting food. They describe themselves as “food producers and stewards of the countryside”.
​This ethos extends to the animals they raise. In the winter months, they graze the lambs on stubble turnips adding extra sweetness to the meat. Every stage of the process bringing food to the farm shop has been carefully thought through so when filling your basket you can be assured of the highest quality.
​There is also a selection of prepared dishes thanks to the onsite kitchen, built in 2012 where home grown meat, fruit and vegetables are used to produce a selection of pies, ready meals, soups, sausage rolls and puddings to name but a few. Especially popular are the Longhorn steak and kidney pies, chicken and leek pies, Longhorn cottage pies and Longhorn beef lasagne.
​These ready meals are perfect for those who are short on time but still want to serve a healthy, delicious meal with the best quality ingredients.
​Add to this the larder products which come from small producers, many of them local, and you have a smorgasbord of goodies. There is honey from bees kept on the farm as well as locally made cakes, biscuits, traybakes and confectionery.
​It feels like they have thought of everything and it has prompted a recent customer to write “This has got to be one of the best of its kind”.   Well done Wykham Park!
Opening Hours:
​Mon – Sat 8.30am ’til 5.30pm
​Sun 10am ’til 4pm
Wykham Park Farm
Wykham Lane
​Banbury
OX16 9UP
info@wykhampark.co.uk
01295 262235
www.wykhampark.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Wiltshire
Roves Farm Shop, Butchery & Café

8/11/2021 | 0 Comments

Editorial & images supplied by Keeley Lally, Marketing Manager at Roves Farm
​Located on a family run 400 acre working farm & visitor attraction, Roves Farm Shop, Butchery & Café opened in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength.
​Stocking over 500 products, many of which are made from home-reared & locally sourced produce, on our shelves you will find a wide range of top-quality meats, free-range eggs, milk, cheeses, fresh fruit & vegetables, homemade pies, lasagnes, quiches, cakes & artisan breads.  We have an extensive range of store cupboard staple sauces, chutneys, pickled onions & jams. We also stock a variety of local craft beers, cider, ales, wines & spirits plus high-quality chocolate & sweet treats.
​Many products are also available to buy in our online shop for collection in-store.
​We are passionate about producing good quality meat from the best animals, reared to high animal welfare standards.  You can be confident knowing the ‘field to fork’ journey of all Roves-reared meat. Our lamb, pork and beef is all born & reared here on our farm. Slow grown & well hung to produce meats that are tender & full of flavour and butchered here by our experienced butchers.
​Our 40 strong herd of breeding Sussex cows are a traditional breed that thrive on our rich grassland and are renowned for producing quality meat, that is well marbled, fine in texture with a traditional flavour.
​Our home-produced prime lambs are born and reared on the farm to the highest welfare and environmental standards. We have two flocks, Poll Dorset ewes and Suffolk cross ewes. The early lambing, Poll Dorsets, supply us with new season lamb from late January. The main flock of Suffolk cross ewes provide us with a lamb supply for the rest of the year. Our lamb is always well hung for a minimum of seven days to develop flavour and produce tender, succulent cuts.
​Roves Farm pork comes from our own Gloucester Old Spot pigs, a traditional rare breed pig, producing the finest cuts of pork. Our pigs are reared outdoors under our willows and in the fields where they are free to root and forage.  The slower growth of our pigs and their stress-free environment helps produce more succulent, flavoursome meat & delicious crackling!
​In the skilled hands of our experienced butchers, Gavin & Dave, our Roves-reared meats are transformed into top quality sausages, burgers, prime cuts, mince and excellent joints.
​Our Woolly Sheep Café is open every day serving freshly prepared food, from brilliant breakfasts to light lunches & delicious homemade cake.  We have a variety of fresh, homemade dishes to choose from with many gluten, soya & dairy free options.
​Our fantastic team also handmake all the prepared meals, quiches, pies and cakes that can be found in the Farm Shop.
​The latest additions to our Farm Shop offering include a zero-waste pantry and fresh milk dispenser.
​Roves Refills will enable our customers to shop more sustainably.  Just re-use your own clean plastic containers, paper or cloth bags & jars, and fill with a range of pasta, beans, pulses, nuts, oil, fruit, grains, seeds, chocolate & even sweets.
​Reducing the use of unnecessary packaging, this way of shopping is sustainable, economical & easy.  By reusing your own containers, plastic use is reduced & you are buying just what you need & so reducing food waste.
​We also sell glass jars just in case you forget to bring your own!
​​And don’t miss the Moo Station, which dispenses fresh milk, locally sourced from Berkeley Farm, which is just six miles away.  Just buy a re-usable glass bottle from the Farm Shop, dispense your milk and you’re all set.  Add a flavoured shot & you have a tasty milkshake to go! Alternatively, you can bring your own container to re-use. Another way we are helping our customers to reduce & re-use plastic and cut waste.
 We look forward to welcoming you very soon.
Opening hours:
EVERYDAY
​9am – 5pm
Roves Farm Shop
Butchery & Café
Sevenhampton, Swindon
SN6 7QG
01793763939
farmshop@rovesfarm.co.uk
www.rovesfarm.co.uk/farmshop

Featured Producer – Rosemullion Distillery

1/11/2021 | 0 Comments

​Curling around the beautiful logo on every Rosemullion bottle are the evocative words ‘protectors and perfecters of the distillers’ craft’. 
​Here is a Cornish producer who lives by his art, one of a small number of distilleries in the area who create their base spirit from scratch, using bespoke, hand-built copper stills. Each bottle of Cornish gin or rum is truly artisan, made with a passionate focus on flavour, quality, and authenticity.
​Since its birth in 2018, Rosemullion Distillery has been busy collecting awards and the list of accolades is both impressive and extensive:
2021 SIP California (11 medals)
2021 Spirits Business Rum & Cachaca (3 medals)
2020 Great British Food Awards (3 medals)
2020 World Rum (3 medals)
2020 SIP California (6 medals)
2020 San Francisco (6 medals)
​Whether it’s the addition of Cornish rainwater to the fermentation and distillation processes, the inclusion of local seasonal fruit or the sprinkle of Cornish sunshine, these beautiful bottles filled with spirit are spreading joy around the world.
​Reading through the reviews from the judges at these events, it’s hard not to want to wrap your hands around a glass of rum or bury your nose into a tumbler full of gin. Put your feet up, pop another log on the fire, refill your glass and enjoy these excerpts below;

Gold Rum 

​​”The nose starts off with tropical pineapple, mango and slightly overripe generic tropical fruit. There is light floral notes and a lovely citrus lemon and lime aroma note. The rum also introduces some very light funky higher ester aromas and grapefruit. The rum is very pleasant on the palate with a warm and round mouthfeel. You get pineapple, mango and lime with a touch of grapefruit and citrus notes. There is a little bit of volatile alcohol, but it is quite pleasant, and it gives the rum some spice and heat. “

Seafarer’s Gin

​”A beautiful and appetising combination between savoury and saline notes and sweet candied citrus supported by vegetal, green notes and spices. Great balance between sweeter fruity notes, warm alcohol and cooling, dry Juniper. The alcohol is beautifully integrated and it is a fantastically balanced and unique expression with plenty to offer. It has a long, complex maritime finish”

​Spiced Rum

​”​A delicious spiced nose with a huge amount going on; clove, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg the list goes on. The palate is warm and supple, just the right amount of sweetness and it’s really comforting. Those spices translate amazingly from the nose to the palate and balance out really nicely with the other components. A lovely rum that I’d happily drink anywhere. ”

Summer Gin

“Ripe fruits and crispy vegetables on the nose supported by bold juniper and reminiscent of cacao beans. It is cool and refreshing on the palate with delicate fruity notes, maybe table grapes and citrus. Subtle , soft and refreshing on the finish, just lovely for the hot summer months“
​Although our language isn’t as lyrical as these judges, we at Fabulous Farm Shops were lucky enough to conduct our own review of some of these tipples back in 2020. You can read our thoughts here… Watch this space for further reviews as we have just received another box of Rosemullion’s latest goodies. Alternatively, get in touch with Rosemullion Distillery and see what you could stock on your own shelves!

Featured Farm Shop – Staffordshire
Bradshaw Brothers Farm Shop & Café

1/11/2021 | 0 Comments

On the edge of Cannock Chase Country Park, you’ll find Bleakhouse Farm, home to this 4th generation family business, Bradshaw Brothers Farm Shop and Café.
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At the heart of the farm shop is the onsite traditional butchers who work daily to produce locally sourced, quality cuts of meat perfect for the Sunday roast or flavoured sausages which might inspire you to try something a little bit different. What about pork and tomato or chilli and cheese? I can feel my mouth watering.
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​There is also a massive selection of bread which is produced in-house using traditional methods. The extensive list of artisan loaves covers all tastes from multiseed, granary and rye through to tiger bread, cheese & onion baps , baguettes and the wonderfully local and evocative Staffordshire knot.
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​Wander past the meat counter and bakery shelves and you will discover local cider, a deli counter complete with homemade Bradshaw’s pies (“the meat is tender, the pastry’s wonderful” commented one reviewer on social media), fresh produce, gifts, hampers and various seasonal items (including the current season’s hot chocolate shots which I definitely have my eye on)… and if you cannot make it in person then all of these goodies are available to order online.
 
 
Free delivery is available to local Burntwood residents within a 3 mile radius of the shop but they will also deliver further afield to local areas Cannock, Hednesford, Heath Hayes, Norton Canes and Lichfield for a £5 charge (orders £40 or over).
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​If you have small people and want to make a day of it, then the farm also hosts alpaca and other animal experiences. My favourite suggestion is the “pick your own egg and take it home for tea”. My children would have loved that when they were small!
 
Mon-Sat  8 til 4.30
Sun 8 til 3pm
Local deliveries & contactless collections available
Bradshaw Brothers Farm Shop & Café
Bleakhouse Farm
Ironstone Rd, Burntwood
WS7 1YL
01543 279437​
​info@bradshawbros.co.uk
www.bradshawbros.co.uk
 

If you would like to have your farm shop featured at the top of your county page, please contact

theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Somerset
Trading Post Farm Shop

1/11/2021 | 0 Comments

Feature supplied by Kate at The Trading Post Farm Shop
Three-time winner of the Muddy Stiletto Award for the Best Farm Shop / Deli in Somerset & Dorset – the Trading Post Farm Shop, just off the A303 near South Petherton in Somerset, has upped its game for Christmas this year.

​Not letting anything get them down after the eventful past few months, The Trading Post are going full out on their festivities!
​In previous years, Kate and Andy, the owners of the Trading Post since 2017, have sat down with a pile of Christmas catalogues and a glass of whisky, carefully scrutinising every page to make those hard decisions –  which flavour of panettone should be stocked and which one simply won’t fit on the shelves, which boxes of chocolates, chutneys, biscuits and snacks from each range will be purchased and which ones will be left on hold for the following year. The catalogues were full of ticks, crosses and copious notes.
This year, their marker pen had an easier job as whole pages of beautiful products were excitedly circled. Every turn of the page brought something new and thrilling or joy from new packaging that perked up an existing line of products.
Then came the most difficult of all decisions – where the heck was it all going to fit? The shop, already bursting at the seams with amazing all year round produce, just wasn’t going to be big enough. ​
​Rather than waiting for it all to arrive and hoping it would fit, the decision was made to purchase a marquee and create a Christmas Shop.​Early September saw the arrival of the structure and within 24 hours it was up and being filled. Over the following weeks many more beautiful products were added to the shelves. ​
​​The marquee has been an instant hit with everyone – there are even some chocolate ‘Bah Humbug’ lollies for those customers who aren’t quite in the festive spirit yet.

​the new christmas shop marquee

​This year the Trading Post Farm Shop will be your go-to grotto – Kate, Andy and the Trading Post Team cannot wait to greet you!
Mon-Sat 8.30am – 6pm 
​Sun 10am – 4pm​
​Local delivery & contactless collections available
Trading Post Farm Shop
Lopenhead
TA13 5JH
​01460 241666
​kate@tradingpostfarmshop.co.uk
www.tradingpostfarmshop.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Greater Manchester
Albion Farm Shop & Café

28/10/2021 | 0 Comments

Albion Farm Shop & Cafe is located in the stunning area of Saddleworth and their range of products includes everything from your weekly staples to a fantastic selection of locally sourced produce & tasty treats.
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The farm shop itself is full of freshly made delights, from hearty homemade pies, condiments, milk, free range eggs, dressings, freshly baked breads, oils, cream, chutneys, pastries, ready made meals, snacks, seasonal fruit & veg and a fab range of artisan products.
​The welcoming cafe serves homemade cakes, award winning breakfasts, milkshakes, afternoon teas, desserts & the most AMAZING ice cream made using local, full cream milk & thick double cream. Check out some of the fantastic flavours on offer, salted caramel, lemon meringue or raspberry pavlova to name a few!  You can purchase a tub of your favourite in the freezer section to take home too…
​The deli counter offers an INCREDIBLE choice of homemade pies, pasties, cheeses, sausage rolls, pates, olives, antipasti and freshly made sandwiches all made by themselves or sourced from local suppliers.
​You’ll find award winning homemade sausages (black treacle with spring onion is their best seller) on the butchers counter, along with locally sourced free range chicken, pork, lamb and cured bacon. Much of the beef, lamb and mutton are born and reared here on the farm.
Shop Opening Times:
Mon -Fri – 9am-5.30pm
Sat 9am-5pm
Sun – 9am-4pm
Cafe Opening Times:
Mon – Sat 9am-4.30pm
Sun – 9am-4pm
Albion Farm Shop & Café
Oldham Rd
Delph
Saddleworth
OL3 5RQ
01457 874366
holly.albionfarmshop@gmail.com
www.albionfarmshop.co.uk

Farm Shops – More Reasons To Shop

26/10/2021 | 0 Comments

Editorial written by Edward Berry, of the Flying Fork
​As the multiples suffered empty shelves some farm shops experienced a substantial  increase in demand, and without the logjam of regional depots and multi-channel international supply chains, had supply to fulfil this.
Some farm shops effectively converted their shop floors to accommodate social distancing, and others changed to delivery processes to accommodate demand. With space available  from their now closed  cafes, this was used by many to create dedicated packing systems and collection hubs.
Many consumers discovered farms shops are not as expensive as imagined and enjoyed a pleasurable shopping experience. Further, local people often avoid them not because of price, but because supermarkets are convenient and easier to access on the way home from work. But as people consider their options post COVID-19, and some employers allow their employees to work from home as and when, it may be that sourcing local food will potentially become habitual for many people.
A change in attitude among shoppers could last beyond the pandemic, with sourcing food locally becoming the new normal. This of course raises the question of how the benefits that emerged for the local food economy during this period can be maintained into
the future. Looking at a fight back from the multiples, all promotions and advertising
are set firmly at price alone.
Farm shops have neither the margin to compete, nor the communication channels to access to such a wide audience.  Messages of local employment, low food miles and above all quality and taste must win over simple pricing.
Shortages today appear to have evolved from a number of areas –  Covid issues – change of career, illness, furlough etc., Brexit – shortage of workforce, borders and increased paperwork, driver shortages – a mix of all of the previous reasons.
Add shipping challenges – container ships waiting to dock and unload and throw in the well reported Suez canal block and you have a perfect storm.
This gives a clear reason to expect shortages of imported goods.
Next add driver shortages in this country and you have reasons for empty shelves in supermarkets.
So to the rescue, yet again, comes the local shop, with its regional supply, flexibility to fill shelves on a rotational basis and accept that not everything needs to be available all the time.
www.theflyingfork.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – County Durham
Piercebridge Organic Farm Shop

11/10/2021 | 0 Comments

From one fridge, one freezer and a table, Piercebridge Organics have gradually grown their shop into a destination for all things organic now stocking over 2,000 different products.
It’s often thought that Organic food comes with a hefty price tag but as Piercebridge Organic Farm Shop produce all their meat themselves and buy vegetables direct from local farms, they are often cheaper than the supermarket for like-for-like products.
 Located on the 300 acre farm in Piercebridge, Darlington, the shop’s meat counter is filled with home-reared Aberdeen angus beef, pork from a Landrace Duroc pig, famous for its tasty tender pork and lamb from their flock of mixed sheep including Scottish Black Face, Cheviots and home bred Mules. Their on-site butcher creates fresh burgers, sausages, ham, bacon and cooked meats as well as your classic joints and cuts of meat.
If it’s fresh eggs that you are after then you have come to the right place as the shop is supplied by Harry’s hens and these are truly happy hens – they are 100% organic, 100% free range, in smaller colonies, and they actually go outside! Harry introduced organic chickens to the farm when he was just six years old.
​​If you have any room left in your basket then browse the shelves around you, stacked with flours, pulses, beans, canned products, pastas, jams, fish plus a small range of gifts.
​Monday – Saturday:   9:00am – 3:30pm
Sunday:   9:30am – 1:00pm
Bank Holidays:   CLOSED
Piercebridge Organic Farm Shop
The Green, Piercebridge
Darlington
DL2 3SE
01325 374251
enqs@piercebridgefarm.co.uk
www.piercebridgeorganics.co.uk

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