There are only seven days left until our major 'What makes a Winner?' event of 2010: The Lap of Honour.

The event is designed not only to give you an insight into four of this year's FARMA Award-winning businesses, but to find out why they won, what the judges are looking for, and how you can improve your application.

Join us for one, two, three or four venues, including Knitsley farm shop, Co Durham; Beadlam Grange, North Yorkshire; Farmer Copleys, West Yorkshire; and Bashall Barn, Lancashire.

Each event includes a farm shop tour and business presentation from the owners, with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussions.

Can't get away for the day?
Join us for a FARMA four course evening meal at Bashall Barn, showcasing its flair for local, seasonal food, and be inspired by a restaurant which shows a new style of on-farm dining. Just £35 per person!

Prices start at £35 for half a day, £55 for 1 day, or £99 for both days.

If you haven't worked out it's Mother's Day yet this Sunday, there's still time to put the hampers together, and stock up on flowers, gifts and chocolate. But don't forget that the 14th is also Simnel Sunday; traditionally the Simnel cake is eaten at the end of Lent - time to get out the chocolate eggs!

National Butchers' Week runs from 15 - 20 March and is a great opportunity to show off your specialities and staff, launch a new product, or run promotions. It's closely followed by Bacon Connoisseurs Week on 20-28 March. 

As if Easter isn't enough then from the 29 March - 5 April there's National Cask Ale Week, including Hop Monday (5 April) - a great chance to showcase your local ales and the producers behind them.

Monday 19 April

Suffolk Food Hall

Wherstead Hall, Peppards Lane, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2AB

Butchery counters are now a core part of the business for many farm shops. A full counter service not only showcases home-reared and local meat, but can dramatically boost profit margins.

Join us for a day at Suffolk Food Hall, this year’s winner of the FARMA Best on-farm Butchery Award, to see how they make their counter work, upselling their own beef and game, and adding value by creating a whole range of products, from kebabs to chorizo. We will also be joined by Michael Richardson of EBLEX who will be leading a session on direct retail and marketing of meat products.

There will be plenty of time to see the rest of the Food Hall too, guided by owners Oliver and Robert Paul, and a fabulous lunch will be provided in the Samford Restaurant.



The afternoon is our Focus on Fish. The fish counter at Suffolk Food Hall is franchised to local company Crystalwaters, who source much of their display from Lowestoft. Dave ‘The Fishmonger’ will be sharing about the venture with the Food Hall, his buying policy, and top tips for creating a profitable fish counter.

The day closes with a discussion about Food Clubs and loyalty schemes as marketing tools and ways of adding value to your business.

What you’ll learn

-          Advice from retailers and consultants in the meat and seafood sectors

-          Advice and tips on setting up and running a successful and profitable butchery counter

-          Ideas for presentation and marketing meat

-          Advice on setting up and running a profitable fish counter

-          Tips on sourcing fish and seafood

-          Ideas for adding value to raw ingredients

-          Developing franchises

-          A better understanding of how Food Clubs work and what they could add to your business

For more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0845 45 88 420

FARMA members' Low Sizergh Barn, near Kendal, Cumbria, is a national finalist for the Taste of England Award in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010.

The farm shop and tea room has already won their regional heat, and is up against others from across the UK. All the winners will be unveiled at the awards ceremony on 23 April, in celebration of St George’s Day.

The Taste Awards are open to all sectors of the tourism industry that create a taste experience and are committed to buying or producing locally.  Low Sizergh Barn was judged to have demonstrated creativity in its use of local produce and to offer a first class customer service. The business, part of an organic dairy farm demonstrates a strong awareness and commitment to having a positive impact on the environment.

Visit Low Sizergh Barn

The first British rhubarb of the year is always a welcome sight - a sign that winter is finally coming to an end and spring is on the way.

Now rhubarb growers within the 'Yorkshire triangle' of Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds, have even more to shout about as their forced rhubarb joins a growing number of foods (41 within the UK) awarded PDO status.

Hilary Benn, the Rural Affairs Secretary, said that rhubarb had been recognised because of the quality of the product and the commitment and enthusiasm from growers and local people. He said that he wanted more British products to achieve the same protection.

Forced rhubarb is grown in fields for two years and then replanted in sheds where they are kept in dark, moist conditions for about ten weeks. The lack of light ensures the forcing process that draws energy from the plants’ roots to give the rhubarb a more sweet and delicate flavour.

Rhubarb has been used by the Chinese in remedies for years and is growing in popularity in the UK due to its health benefits, low calorie content, sweet-sharp taste and fabulous colour. It is also hoped that the PDO status will draw more tourists to the Rhubarb Trail where they can see it growing inside the sheds.

Bashall Barn, Clitheroe, Lancashire, is the last of the stops on this year's FARMA Lap of Honour tour, and winner of this year's Best on-farm restaurant award.

It's an intriguing business, where a series of dining areas have been designed to meet the needs, wants and budgets of different customer groups. The space is light, with large windows, block colours, contemporary paintings, and caters for everyone from school visits to wedding receptions and fine dining.

Join us for a guided tour and look behind the scenes at Bashall Barn in the afternoon of Wedneday 17 March. Owner Simon Barnes and his general manager, Henk van Heuman, have put together a fabulous four course local food dinner especially for FARMA members included within the amazing price of just £35, or join us at Farmer Copleys in the morning and pay just £55 for both events, as part of this year's Lap of Honour tour. 

Find out more about this year's FARMA Lap of Honour tour.

For more information, please email Laura This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0845 45 88 420