The work of a new Island business that is helping to reduce food miles by expanding the choice of locally sourced products has been praised by the Island’s MP.
The Isle of Wight Farm Shop at Godshill is under new management and expanding the range of local produce on offer, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Bob Seely MP has said it is a great example of a local business making both a positive contribution to the Island’s economy and also its sustainability goals.
The Isle of Wight Farm Shop, previously owned by the Brownrigg family, has recently been taken over by Island farmers Andrew Hodgson and Phillip Morris who are keen to build on the success of their predecessors as well as introducing new lines.
Bob says:
“We need to encourage local Island food producers to produce high quality, locally reared and produced, ethical food with low food miles. I was delighted to see all this all being achieved at the Isle of Wight Farm Shop.
“This is the latest in a line of such enterprises on the Island that are marking us out as a leader in terms of sustainable production. I was very pleased to see first-hand the produce on offer and also to hear about the new owners exciting plans to introduce new lines.”
The meat on offer is reared by the Isle of Wight Meat Co, a farming enterprise also run by Andrew Hodgson. Andrew has said:
“I hope that this local shop will give the Isle of Wight Meat Co an opportunity to showcase our meat through the in-store butchers shop, whilst making other local produce, including fresh vegetables, milk and cheese from Island farms, accessible in one place.
“As we develop the shop further, I hope to demonstrate which farms the produce comes from and how it is produced. This will enable local farmers to show off the quality of their produce, as well as the environmental and economic benefit to our Island.
“We have some exciting new ideas we hope to bring forward soon so watch this space.”
Kitchen Manager, Gavin Ford, adds:
“It’s really exciting to be building from the offering that used to be available at the old Brownriggs farm shop. Our ethos is about celebrating the best of what the Island has to offer from field to freezer.
“Everything that we can buy from local suppliers and producers is our first priority. All cooked as you would at home with no compromise.
“This is a great opportunity to show how amazing the local produce is in a way that is accessible to all.”
Yes, of course local is good, if only we could afford to buy it. The prices of the local meat etc is eye watering…
It is what meat should cost us in Britain
It has been ridiculously low for too long.
Eat less but better. Bulk up with vegetables.
Very true.
With the current climate and everything going up including energy etc
These type of places will struggle
Not for the rich it won’t, what with there expensive electric cars and telling us peasants how to live whilst taking there obligated 3 holidays a year.
Any gain from the reduction of food miles is lost because of waste and inefficiencies. Jay Rayner has written many books on the subject. There are better reasons for having local farmer shops than waving the green flag. It should be a lot better for the welfare of the animals, not being shipped across continents.
What would be better for the environment is for all to eat less meet. Easy to do and much better for you. You don’t have to cut it out. 14.7% of all green house gasses comes from Cattle alone, before you process it.
Humans are omnivores not carnivores. We don’t have to eat meet everyday.
Sadly a lot of “ island produced meat and veg “ isn’t ! This isn’t mud slinging or being negative just saying it as it is !
Check the packaging. I have been there and it is clearly labelled if not from the Island.
Everytime somebody tries to emulate the mainland and what there is now the norm, some islanders seek to destroy it.
If you want to put your money in to a huge faceless machine like Tescos etc go ahead
Andrew is a good man
Good luck to you
Do they do half sausages??
I will definitely be using The Isle of Wight Farm shop for the Welcome Baskets that I put into holiday homes. What a great way to showcase the very best of the Island produce!
That’s good … but ultimately your holiday home clients are paying the expensive cost – not you !