Local producers join Food Town launch

Producers and retailers from Mid Devon are taking part in the official launch of a Food Town project in Somerset.

Their produce will be showcased at the event in Wellington on Saturday, December 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, where visitors can enjoy free samples of foods and drinks.

Among those involved are Tom and Chris Gabriel, who run Little Pirzwell Natural Meats, in Kenrisbeare, Cullompton, which produces red ruby beef and native-breed lamb for boxes of meat.

Also taking part is Culm Valley Organic Vegetables, in Uffculme, run by Suzie and Carol Farley, who produce organice vegetables for boxes which can be delivered to the door or bought at farmers’s markets.

Bridget Brassey, who runs BZ Bees in Cruwys Morchard, is another who will be represented at the event, which will showcase the honey and bees wax products she has been producing from her 15 colonies of bees for the past 12 years, especially the smaller-size jars of honey which larger producers tend not to supply.

At Redhill Farm, Burlescombe, Andrew Harvey and wife Felicity Shakespear have enjoyed a record season with 100 tons of fruit harvested from the 350 varieties of apples in their orchard of 2,000-plus trees.

These go into 8,000 bottles of apple juice which are sold at farmers markets and in local retailers, and which will be represented at the Food Town event.

The launch will kick-start a five-year initiative to brand Wellington as the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the ‘Food Town’ of the Midlands.

The catchment area takes in much of Somerset and a large chunk of Devon, an area which boasts no fewer than eight Rick Stein Food Heroes as well as dozens of other award-winning producers.

Visitors to Wellington on December 2 will be able to enjoy free tastings of some of the best foods and drinks produced in the area and can also take the opportunity to stock up for Christmas. Parking in the town’s car parks will also be free on the day.

The free event will be held in a town centre marquee with around 40 stalls for food producers and a seated area for more than 100 people where expert demonstrations and workshops will be held by several local chefs, including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren and interesting ideas for party food.

Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “We hope as many residents as possible from Mid Devon will come along on December 2 and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful celebration of some of the finest produce the Westcountry has to offer.

“By supporting the Food Town concept, visitors will be encouraging a healthier retail and service economy for the area, which will mean more local jobs, more tourists and regular visitors, and a thriving local agricultural economy.”

Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.

More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com

Our photographs show: 1) Andrew Harvey and wife Felicity Shakespear with some of the 350 varieties of apple tree in their orchards at Redhill Farm, Burlescombe; 2) Suzie (left) and Carol Farley with a box or organic vegetables at Culm Valley Organic Vegetables.