Leading Isle of Wight beef and lamb producers Cheverton Farm have invested in a state-of-the-art processing facility with the aim of transforming the production and access to locally produced meats.
The new plant, which includes substantial dry-ageing rooms and butchery facilities, aims to provide a central hub for Island farms and smallholdings to hang and process their livestock ready for the local market.
The year-long project is now fully operational and already processing Island reared beef, lamb, pigs, deer and even local goats.
Cheverton Farmer Andrew Hodgson is upbeat about the opportunities for his new facility:
“It will provide a direct route to market for the lamb & beef reared on our own farm as well as for other Island producers.
“Recent media attention on sustainable food production has inspired Cheverton Farm cease supplying national supermarkets and concentrate on supplying sustainably produced, high welfare, farm assured meat to the local market, minimising food miles whilst securing a future for the farm.
“The plant houses a specialist environmentally controlled dry-ageing facility that allows the meat to mature, in some cases for over 100 days, on the bone. This important process increases the tenderness and concentrates the flavour in the meat”.
Andrew continues:
“If we are going to eat meat, then we need to do it better, and that extends to how it is matured and butchered. At every step of the process we have identified how to optimise the quality and flavour, to produce truly outstanding meat”.
The venture, trading under the Isle of Wight Meat Co brand, provides an online ordering and delivery service for local customers as well as wholesale to local food service businesses, retailers and butchers.
For more information visit www.isleofwightmeat.co.uk for further details.
Brilliant idea but will the produce be affordable to us normal folk
Very much so, I work on the farm and the butchery rooms and it’s affordable and 5* produce! All of us on the farm buy our meat from there whenever we need it!
Just had a look at your website, looks great. Will visit the farm shop soon
Wouldn’t you be buying at staff rates.I welcome this Massive venture but only if we can go to our old fashioned local Butcher and buy it at a very similar price to the Supermarkets
This is great news
Good local food for local people. Combined with good animal welfare, it’s just how farming should be.
Nice to see some food news that isn’t about veganism for a change.
good animal welfare!!!!!..before they get slaughterer..are you having a laugh…cant believe my ears you must be related to none given….
your knowledge of farming & animal welfare is presumably based on what you read in the media and on facebook etc.
some of us have first hand knowledge
What they dont get killed for meat..wow u must be magic making meat out of animals that dont die..hmmm magic farming…get out the stone ages
Bill payer .just because you do not want to eat meat .does not mean normal people don’t.
Wind your neck in .
Shut up pike..who asked you ..think about the animals before you try and shed your unwanted opinion always one who thinks there above anyone else…
What a surprise – bill payer the “apparently vegan” is on here pouring scorn on those that eat meat, as they are herbivores, whilst still using electronic devices that use batteries which contain gelatin – a product derived from animals – tut tut bill payer – not very committed to being a vegan are you, as you are clearly not avoiding using all things made by humans that contain animal products.
There are no vegan batteries.
Absolutely excellent and inspired diversification in times of austerity. Well done to Cheverton Farm not only for investing in their farms future but also in supporting Island residents to access high quality, locally grown food.
When will the island have its own abotoire ?
Not until EU regulations requiring a vet to be in attendance are removed. Prior to this when the island had its own slaughterhouse there was an IWC meat inspector instead. If I remember correctly it was a retired policeman named Peter Hunt
Yes stinking place right in the middle of town !