Touchbase Magazine

June 13, 2012 Posted by admin in Local News & Town Features

Buying local

By Laraine Kirkham

Linking the producer with the consumer-why we should indulge ourselves with local produce.

I am sure that I am in the minority when I tell you that I still have a milkman to deliver my milk. In truth I cannot remember not having my milk delivered and every month he leaves me his bill which I pay by cheque and leave in the milk bottle for his collection! I rue the day when that comes to an end. But enough of this nostalgia…..

It is true to say that the majority of us source all of our groceries at our local supermarkets because we can get quite literally everything we need from them. I daren’t tell my milkman but I have been known to buy milk from one! It is also true to say that because of the immediacy of our global transport systems we can now obtain virtually any fruit and vegetable we choose all year round. Grown in other countries, they may well have been flown thousands of miles to reach our local supermarkets and us, the all important consumer. There is no doubt that supermarkets are valuable assets for the consumer and it is wonderful to be able to have access to such a diverse range of what where once seasonal foods throughout the year.

Of course, there is an alternative. What about locally sourced foods that you can buy from the actual person responsible for that food, someone who cares about what they are producing? Residents of Rural Warwickshire and Worcestershire are blessed with a plethora of artisan makers, family food ventures and farmers who offer us a fantastic selection of delicious local produce and bespoke, handcrafted fare. Our local farm shops literally burst with ripe produce. Farmers, small holders and local producers are all involved in producing great local produce and pride themselves in telling you where the food is sourced from, what its carbon footprint and impact is and, perhaps more importantly, what it has been through before we buy and eat it.

FarmsDirect.org puts the consumer in direct contact with the local producer and your local produce. At FarmsDirect, you simply locate your closest farm producer and then you may source your food locally directly from the person that produced it and in doing so you are supporting your local producer and encouraging and helping them to continue to grow and rear good, wholesome, local produce.

LOWER CLOPTON FARM SHOP

Lower Clopton Farm, Upper Quinton Warwickshire CV37 8LQ www.lowerclopton.co.uk 01386 438236

MALT KILN FARM SHOP & PYO

Stretton-under-Fosse, Rugby Warwickshire CV23 0PE www.maltkilnfarmshop.co.uk 01788 832640

Farm Shop and pick-your-own. Farm shop sells own beef, lamb and Gloucester Old Spot pork. Specialising in other locally produced foods.

RIGHTONS OF SHIPSTON

16 Sheep Street, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4AF www.rightonsofshipston.co.uk/ 01608 661445

Berryfields Farm Shop & Coffee Shop

Meriden Nr Coventry, West Midlands CV7 7LB Tel. 01676 522 155 Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm, Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 2pm. CLOSED MONDAY!

HATTON COUNTRY WORLD

Dark Lane, Hatton, Warks CV35 8XA www.hattonworld.com 01926 843411

The Cotswold Cheese Company

5 High Street, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 0AH. Tel 01608 652862 www.cotswoldcheesecompany.co.uk

Farmers Fayre

National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ 02476 692844

Glebe Farm Shop

Fosse Way, Ashorne, Warwick, Warwickshire CV35 9AE 01926 651440

Meat Matters

Middle Watchbury Farm, Wasperton Lane, Barford, Warwick, Warwickshire CV35 8DH 07990 535420

Red Road Nursery & PYO Farm

Red Road, Little Kineton, Warwick, Warwickshire CV35 0DN 01926 642297

The Organic Farm Shop

Abbey Home Farm, Burford Road, Cirencester, GL7 5HF 01285 640441

Hilltop Farm

Fosse Way, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV33 9EL 01926 632978

Beckett’s Farm Shop

Beckett’s Farm, Alcester Road (A435), Wythall B47 6AJ 2 mins from Jct 3 M42 www.beckettsfarm.co.uk 01564 823402

F Weetman & Son

Chase Lane, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1PR 01926 852924

Berkswell Traditional Farmstead Meats

Specialists in Native Rare Breed Meats For quality, tender meat with flavour Warwickshire’s only accredited traditional breeds butcheR

The Farm Shop, Larges Farm, Back Lane, Meriden CV7 7LD Tel: 01676 522409 www.berkswelltraditionalmeats.co.uk

Berryfields Farm Shop

Delicious, fresh, local produce & friendly service - everything you need for your weekly shop.

Berryfields Farm Shop & Coffee Shop, Berkswell Road
Meriden CV7 7LB Tel: 01676 522 155 www.berryfieldsfarmshop.co.uk info@berryfieldsfarmshop.co.uk

YEW TREE FARM SHOP

Come and experience the finest home baking, fresh fruit and vegetables, award winning local produce, ice-cream and much more... open 7 days a week

Yew Tree Craft Centre, Stratford Road, Wootton Wawen, Nr Henley In Arden B95 6BY T: 01564 795688

Covent Garden Fruit & Vegetables

Local Organic vegetables vegetable boxes local farm produce

1654 The High Street, Knowle Tel: 01564 774363

Vernon James Ltd Specialist Butchers

Traditional Butchers & Greengrocers, with many local products stocked, also local floristry now available.

239 Widney Road, Bentley Heath, Knowle B93 9BW Tel: 01564 772117

Free Parking • Open 6 days a week • Deliveries made locally (free) • Gluten free products available & other special dietary products catered for upon request

Covent Garden Fish

fresh fish daily

At Covent Garden Fish you’ll only find the freshest and highest quality fish and shellfish.

We source a wide range of fresh fish and shellfish delivered daily from Brixham.

1654 The High Street, Knowle Tel: 01564 774363

Hiller’s Farm Shop

Dunnington Heath Farm, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 5PD 01789 773057

We love good food and if you do too, why not visit Hillers, a family run enterprise that is passionate about bringing you the best in quality local produce and customer service that’s second to none!

Whether you want to browse in the award winning farm shop, enjoy a delicious meal in the café, walk round the beautiful display garden or find a gift for that special someone, visit Hillers, you’ll be assured of a warm welcome.