TWO Ryedale farms received a royal seal of approval following a visit to the area by Prince Charles yesterday.
The royal patron of the Mutton Renaissance Campaign toured Grange Farm in Levisham, near Pickering, and spoke with Tim Wilson, and his staff who run the Ginger Pig enterprise, which rears, butchers and sells meat through a number of traditional shops in London and the local area.
Earlier in the day he visited Hill Top Farm in Spaunton, near Kirkbymoorside, where he talked with organic millers and farmer Philip Trevelyan, who impressed his distinguished visitor with his self-designed gardening fork.
Prince Charles was visiting North Yorkshire with business leaders as part of his Business in the Community programme, aimed at improving links between farmers and retailers.
While inspecting the special breed sheep, pigs and long-horned cattle at Grange Farm, they chatted, shared jokes and discussed problems blighting modern agriculture.
He said the company was a "shining example" of a farming business, which can be both successful and profitable.