Cwmcerrig Farmshop scoops National Trust awards
The business has been rewarded for its Dinefwr Venison and Dinefwr Venison Red Wine and Onion Sausages.
The popular Farmshop and Grill in Gorslas, Carmarthenshire, has developed the products in partnership with the National Trust’s Dinefwr Estate near Llandeilo.
One of the partners in the Watkins family business, Roland Watkins, said: “It’s the first time for us to be entered into the awards and we are delighted to receive the prizes.
“The judging process for the awards is very strict and that makes it all the more rewarding to be recognised by the National Trust.
“We have built up a great reputation for our meat here at Cwmcerrig and we take pride in producing quality, value-for-money products which are appreciated by our customers.”
The news of the National Trust Fine Farm Produce awards follows hot on the heels of Cwmcerrig being nominated for two prestigious UK Farm Retail Awards run by the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association (FARMA). Cwmcerrig is also in the running for a Taste of Wales award next week.
The venison is reared on the 800-acre medieval deer park on the Dinefwr Estate and is managed by lead ranger Wyn Davies.
Mr Davies said: “I am really proud that the Dinefwr venison has won awards because this is the first time it has been marketed to the public.
“People often talk about the importance of knowing where your food comes from. Well, the Dinefwr herd of fallow deer can be traced back through the centuries and graze the only parkland National Nature Reserve in Wales. You can’t get much better than that!”
The property manager for the National Trust in Carmarthenshire, Jacqui Kedward, said: “Carmarthenshire is known for its local produce, but the partnership between producers and the National Trust is less well known. We always knew the quality of the venison was exemplary, but this has now been confirmed.
“It has been a privilege to work with our partners at Cwmcerrig to bring this high quality product to market.”
The National Trust Fine Farm Produce awards are now in their seventh year. They celebrate the breadth and quality of produce grown, reared or made on land owned or managed by the National Trust.
Entrants must go through an application process demanding all products pass a checklist of environmental standards before they are even considered for a prize. Products that pass the checks go through a blind taste test by a panel of judges.
Ron Macklin, national agriculture and food adviser at the National Trust and chair of the judging panel, said: “It is our aim to really connect customers to where their food comes from and these awards are a great way to do this.”
The National Trust cares for half a million acres of farmland across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It works closely with its properties and tenants to help them develop high quality products.
Cwmcerrig Farmshop first opened in 2009 with the aim of securing a sustainable future for the family farm and providing quality, value-for-money produce to the local community. There are 21 members of the Watkins family involved in the project. The Watkins family (Roland, Reuben, Stuart, Tom and Davina) have been farming at Cwmcerrig since the 1950s.
Weblinks –
http://www.cwmcerrigfarmshop.co.uk
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/what-we-do/big-issues/food-and-farming/what-were-doing/fine-farm-produce-awards/
Facebook: ‘Cwmcerrig Farmshop and Grill’ (business)
Twitter: @CwmcerrigFarm
Contacts details:
Tel: 01269 844405
E-mail: info@cwmcerrigfarmshop.co.uk
Address: Cwmcerrig Farm, Gorslas, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA14 7HU
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