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Somerset - Wendy Welland & June Small(working closely with Devon)"Energy Crops - the Power of the Future?" - Monday, 7th March 2005HGCA / RRA Workshop The Exchange, Express Park, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4RR 2004 News from Somerset WFU holding a strawberry tea in July, as in years past, for the Somerset children's hospice. WFU will provide the strawberries and Safeway sponsor the cream. WFU are also holding picnis in two different venues in July and early September. Royal Bath and West Show - 2 - 5 June 2004 WFU Picnics WFU are demonstratingtraditional British picnics on the 15th August at the MID SOMERSET SHOW, SHEPTON MALLET, SOMERSET and on the 11th September at the NORTH SOMERSET PLOUGHING MATCH, KENN, nr BRISTOL, SOMERSET The Ploughing match has a very large food tent with competitions varying from cheese to cider. WFU will be situated in this tent. We are concentrating on one type of picnic at each, probably family oudoor at MID SOMERSET and a ploughmans type at NORTH SOMERSET. Strawberry Day 2003
Local Sourcing 25 Feb 2003 Members attended the Taste of the West Conference on Unlocking the Door to Food and Drink Markets - how key buyers are sourcing locally at Dillington House, Ilminster, Somerset on 25th February 2003 . The conference was chaired by Sir Don Curry who spoke of the importance of regional activities. Empires and egos in regions have been part of the problem in the pas and these must be put aside to look at an overall strategy for a regional produce. It is vital that all the food industry work together to foster consumers' growing enthusiasm for local and regional food.
Local Sourcing Tesco works with farmers and producers on in-store promotions, point of sale material, packaging and display. It holds regualr meet the farmer events and it now gives direct access to local store delilvery. Tesco emphasise the need for continuity of supply at the expense of seasonality and flavour.
Local Catering Products from Local Producers Sainsbury's customers show a strong preference for buying local food. Two of their local cheese suppliers gave an account of their relationship with Sainsbury. One was a large West Country cheese supplier and the other a very small goat's cheese manufacturer. Both were pleased with the help and support provided by Sainsbury. Julian Hunt, editor of the Grocer magazine gave some useful pointers as to how small producers can make use of the media to be aware of the requirements of each branch of communication. The big issues, in order of importance for future reference were
Consumer perceptions and expectations of local food was the subject of Dr Richard Hutchins, business director of the IGD. The IGD have carried out an in-depth survey to discover consumer perceptions of "local". Londoners believe local food is purchased in local shops and have no regard for its origins. In the regions means coming from withing a 50 mile radius. The concept of South West was too large to be considered local and more associated with a tourist region. Most see local as a county. Local also means simple and traditional. 70% of those questioned did not buy local food. Consumer concerns are mainly about the price of food. They are happy with the status quo, but they would like more local food in supermarkets, more farmers' markets and farm shops. They want more discount shops and more supermarkets! For the full report please visit - www.igd.com Report from Somerset - January 2003 June Small has been interviewed by Somerset Life Magazine for their March edition on her involvement with WFU and how she sees farming in the future. She tried to be as positive as possible inthe light of slightly increased farm incomes in 2002. A grant has been given to small schools to plant trees, so Somerset branch is encouraging them to plant apple trees! This fits very well with the Healthy Eating part of the curriculum. There is a good network of Farming in the Classroom speakers in Somerset all willing to talk to pupils in primary schools about modern farming. They work with small producers, Somerset Food Links and the County Council to enhance the landscape and bring knowledge to children. Somerset WFU have been involved with Somerset Advisory Forum, which is aimed at helping farmers to diversify. Each area has an enthusiastic field officer who gives time freely to farmers for advice on the way forward. Projects are supported which allow small producers to supply schools, local government and hospitals. The Forum also helps local village shops to stock local food. What Somerset branch lack in numbers they make up for in enthusiasm. Come and help us organise a cheese celebration! Farmhouse breakfast Week 2003 Farmhouse Breakfast week was celebrated in the rain, snow and sleet at Taunton Farmers' Market. WFU encouraged standholders to cook mushrooms, sausages, bacon and egg for customers and handed out leaflets to the public. Everyone ended up very damp but full of delicious breakfast. Celia Hyland cooked breakfast 'on air' for the early morning programme on Somerset Sound, managing to overcome the vegetarian presenter's prjdice against bacon! Visit of HM the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Taunton Farmers Market Thousands of people welcomed the Queen to Taunton and especially to the Farmers Market. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had requested a visit to see how farmers and producers had fared since foot and mouth. June Small (Somerset WFU) and the Chairman of the Vale Farmers Co-operative was introduced to the Queen and then accompanied the Duke around the market. Both the Queen and the Duke showed a keen interest in all the stands and a wide knowledge of food production, rare breeds and apples much to the delight of June whose stand featured apple juice in many varieties. A locally made willow basket was presented to the Queen. It contained a produce from every stand and the Duke was especially interested in bison steak, and hoped he could taste it later. This visit gave a great boost to farmers markets and gained a lot of publicity for markets everywhere. We were all very proud to be involved and made us certain that there is a future for small producers. We are proud of our markets and ass they are producer run we are able to maintain a high standard and strict regulation. We view the market day as a social occasion as well as an opportunity to meet the public and talk about our products. We have made many friends, eat some interesting food and have exchanged products to sell away from the market in our own farm shops. June Small
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