Awards
2009 Home
NEWS RELEASE: PARKSIDE FARM WINS NATIONAL PICK-YOUR-OWN OF THE YEAR AWARD
| Pick Your Own Farm of the Year 2009 sponsored by: |
|
Ben Ellis, Richard Whitman, Nan Whitman |
Parkside Farm in Enfield, Middlesex, has awarded the title of Pick Your Own farm of
the Year from the National Farmers' Retail and Markets' Association (FARMA). The decision
was announced at the FARMA conference on Newcastle on 11 November.
Pick-your-own has experienced a revival in the past few years with a growing public
interest in fresh, local and seasonal food, and an increasing number of professionally
run farm sites to choose from. The judges felt that Parkside farm was a prime example
of today's friendly, informative, and sustainably managed farm retail site, offering
an extensive selection of great quality fruit and vegetables from early spring until
the first frosts.
The Whitman family have been growing strawberries for pick-your-own at Parkside farm since 1979, and today offer 20 different fruit and vegetable crops across more than 50 acres of land. Customers can pick six varieties of strawberries, mostly grown on table top for easier picking strawberries, plus three varieties of raspberry, blackberries, blackcurrants, plums, spinach, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn, squash, French beans, beetroot, and broad beans. The farm has long used manure from its own herd of cows, and prefers mowing and strimming weeds to using chemical control. The judges commented that the result is a well maintained site, and everything on offer was delicious.
The chairman of the judges, Gordon Wilson, commented, "It was a joy to visit this traditional family
run PYO which is beautifully maintained, well signed and offers exceptional quality fruits and vegetables.
All the staff I spoke to were very helpful and knowledgeable about the produce. Congratulations to
everyone at Parkside farm."
The FARMA awards are the only awards to be peer-assessed by other farm retailers, including previous award winners. An independent mystery shopper report is also available to the judges. The Awards therefore take account of the customer experience while focusing strongly on the farming, management and retail skills demonstrated in the business.
Ends
For more information:
Parkside Farm, Hadley Road, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 8LA
Contact: Richard Whitman Tel: 020 8367 2035
FARMA, Rita Exner or Gareth Jones: 0845 45 88 420 www.farma.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) is a 700-strong farmer-owned co-operative that represents and supports direct sales to the consumer in all its forms: farm shops, pick-your-own farms, farmers' markets, box schemes and internet sales.
It sets standards for farmers' markets with an independent inspection and Certification mark to ensure that they are genuine farmers' markets;
and works to improve retailing and marketing skills throughout the industry. The FARMA Awards have
been running since 2002. |
