|
Distinctly
Cumbrian and Cumbria Organics, two organisations under the CREA banner,
worked together to promote local organic produce and build links with
trade buyers this weekend.
The
venue was the annual Apple Day celebration at Acorn Bank near
Temple
Sowerby
where
Cumbria Organics members have promoted their meat, fruit, vegetables and
other produce to the public for a number of years.
The difference this year was that Kate Gascoyne of Cumbria Organics
had worked with Jon Reed of Distinctly Cumbrian to promote the event to
potential trade buyers from hotels, restaurants and retailers in the
county.
“We
held a buyers’ event at Lowther Horse Driving Trials and Country Fair
earlier in the summer,” explained Jon, “and were specifically asked
about organic producers in the area. When
I realised that over a dozen Cumbria Organics members would already be
gathering at the Apple Day, it seemed an ideal opportunity to invite
buyers along for a great day out and to make some useful business contacts
too.”
Buyers
attended from a number of local pubs and restaurants as well as from
Cumbria County Council and the Youth Hostel Association. “The
event gave me a chance to talk to a number of organic producers,” said
Evan Roberts from the YHA. “We’re
particularly interested in meat and vegetables from Deer ‘n’ Dexter,
Howbarrow Farm and Hadrian’s Organics.
Visitors to Cumbrian hostels are particularly keen to try local
produce and, as an organisation with a particular interest in
sustainability, we’re trying to source organic food when and where we
can.”
Distinctly
Cumbrian also supported the Apple Day event by sponsoring the cookery
demonstration marquee where celebrity chef and advocate of local produce,
Annette Gibbons, created all sorts of apple-related foods during a busy
day. “I have been cooking at
Apple Day celebrations here for the past 12 years,” she said.
“Last year I was cooking in the kitchen in the main house and it
was a bit crowded, to say the least. Having
more space this year was great and it is always such a pleasure to use
local organic produce as well as apples from across
Cumbria
.”
Many
of Annette’s ingredients came from organic producers at the event
including bacon from Whiteholme Farm near
Brampton
: “Apple
Day is a great opportunity for us to sell to people who wouldn’t
normally come along to a purely food event,” said Lynne Perkin of
Whiteholme Farm. “We also
supply the burgers for the day and every year the number increases – it
is a great day out.”
back to top
|
Annette
Gibbons selects vegetables from Eva’s Organics ahead of her Apple Day
cookery demonstrations.
|
