Farm shops recognised in annual award

The winners of the 2011 National Farm Retail Awards from FARMA were announced this week on Tuesday 25 January at an Awards ceremony at the Bournemouth Pavilion, Dorset. The ceremony was part of the FARM & MORE event, which annually attracts hundreds of diversified farm businesses from across the UK.

Fifteen awards in total were given out to a range of businesses from England, Scotland and Wales. The awards, which are unique in the diversified farming industry in that they are peer-assessed, recognise excellence in management, business skills, customer service, commitment to own and local foods, the local community and environment.

The 2011 award-winners were:

Farm Retailer of the Year

Chatsworth Farm Shop, Derbyshire

Urban Farmers’ Market of the Year

Winchester Farmers’ Market, Hampshire

Rural Farmers’ Market of the Year

Ripley Farmers’ Market, Surrey

The Own & Local Award

Lifton Farm Shop, Devon

Best Farm Retail Newcomer

Knitsley Farm Shop, County Durham

Rising Stars – England

Newlyns Farm Shop, Hampshire

Rising Star – Scotland

Ardross Farm Shop, Fife

Rising Star – Wales

Cwmcerrig Farm Shop, Carmarthenshire

Best on-farm Restaurant

Cedar Barn Farm Shop, North Yorkshire

Best on-farm Butchery

Blackerhall Farm Shop, Yorkshire

Best on-farm Seasonal Attraction

Pink Pig Farm, Lincolnshire

The FARMA Environmental Award

Daylesford Organics, Gloucestershire

Community Spirit Award

Headingley Farmers’ Market, Leeds

Stallholder of the Year

W. Wilkes & Son, Malt House Produce, Worcestershire

The Awards’ judges based their decision upon detailed entry forms and documentation submitted by the applicants, a third party Mystery Shop, as well as visitng the businesses of all the finalists (finalists were announced in November).

Richard and Mary Simkin of Essington Fruit Farm, Staffordshire, also received the FARMA Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of their contribution to the sector over the years.