Blackwells Farm Produce

Howard Blackwell has continued his family's tradition for the past 30 years in providing fresh geese and turkeys for the Christmas market. But recently his family have broadened their horizons with launching their own farm shop which has seen pleasing progress.

Since 2004, Blackwells Farm Produce have been servicing leading butchers and food halls with their high quality produced meat and poultry from turkey, chicken, goose, ham, beef, pork and many more.

This is not to mention the vast amount of fresh farm produce available at their local farm shop at Herons Farm , Coggeshall. This includes fruits, vegetables, cheeses and their very own homemade assortment of jam, preservatives and marmalade. More detail of the products on offer can be found on their site using the link below.

For all you couch potatoes, Blackwells Farm Produce bring something to the table that I personally find very cool. Online ordering of their stock. Think of it as the Dominos Pizza for farm produce.

For more information on their supply and even a recipe on how to cook a Three Bird Roast, click here.

Butterfly Lodge Dairy & Farm Shop

I've never been the person that drinks milk. I really cannot stand the stuff. Which is ironic considering as a child, I couldn't get enough of the stuff. But that's simply milk on it's own. I will easily have it within anything else, ice cream being my favourite.

Butterfly Lodge Dairy & Farm Shop consists of Warren and Ellie Goff who joined Ellie's parent's family business in 2000. Their specialty lies in their ice cream using the goats milk produced from their farmed goats. Warren's passion lies in ice cream and between them, he and Ellie have produced their own 'CAPRILATTE' Farmhouse Luxury Dairy Goats Milk Ice Cream.

Demand for this ice cream grew as it is a healthy alternative to the many cow-milk products. Since then, they've even produced 16 different flavours from Mexican Vanilla to Belgian Chocolate. The success of their ice cream has seen Warren and Ellie recieve two diplomas. Not only can you buy their ice cream at their own local farm shop, it has proven to be popular amongst many local pubs and restaurants.

Not only do they sell a wide variety of flavours of their famous ice cream. Goats meat is also on sale at their local farm shop. But unfortunately not in 16 flavours.

And now for something completely different, if you pay a visit to their farm shop, they even have a small post office for all your postal needs. Butterfly Lodge even won an award for the 'Most Unusual Innovative/Unusual Postal Office'.

Pay a visit to their site here.

New Barn Farm

From the depths of West Hanningfield comes New Barn Farm. Sporting a wide variety of produce like traditionally reared Dexter Beef and Gloucester Old Spot Pork, Bacon and Gammon.

Currently ran by couple Pauline and Trevor Robb since 2004, the initial plan was to use their land simply for their two horses to graze. But being inspired from a TV show, they decided to produce their own livestock. Beginning with cattle, they then moved on to chickens, pigs and finally sheep.

The Dexters produce beef of a high quality with excellent flavour with the cuts and joints being on a small scale. It doesn't stop there though. New Barn Farm produce 'old fashioned pork with excellent flavour and their local butcher who does the smoking and curing uses the traditional method. This is only the very basic on what New Barn Farm produce - with chickens, ducks, lamb and egg also being produced.

Their website, which can be accessed by clicking here, lists all their stock available in detail, their prices and even where you can buy live stock. I'd definitely check them out.

Kelly Bronze Turkeys

The common meat to have for a traditional Sunday roast is undoubtedly chicken but for those special occasions like Christmas or even Thanksgiving, you can't go wrong with Kelly Bronze and their range of turkeys.

Beginning in 1974, Derek Kelly chose turkey stock from Oregon focusing on it's eating qualities. He began rearing turkeys for Christmas, concentrating on the texture and taste of the meat. Since then, Kelly Bronze have gained worldwide acclaim for their top quality taste in turkeys.

Kelly Bronze have picked up many awards over the time including the 'BBCs Good Food Award for Specialty Food' and the 'British Turkey Best Speciality Product of the Year Award'. Even the founder, Derek Kelly was rewarded an MBE for his contribution to the Traditional Poultry Industry.

As well as turkey, Kelly Bronze also supply a range of beef and even turkey poults to other producers of christmas turkeys around the country.

I cannot recommend their turkeys enough and it really is something that has to be tasted to be believed.

For more information on where you can purchase these delicious turkeys, and even the optimum way on how to cook them, click here.

Telephone: 01245 223581
Fax: 01245 226124
Address:
Kelly Turkey Farms
Springate Farm
Bicknacre Road
Danbury
Essex
CM3 4EP

Tiptree Jam

I'm ashamed to admit that I have only discovered Tiptree Jam a year ago after a friend offered me a sandwich. Eating this, I was blown away by the amazing taste of Tiptree's strawberry jam. Since then, it has become my only choice of conserve to top my toast in the morning.

Produced locally in, you guessed it - Tiptree, Wilkins & Sons have been producing jam and other conserves that has become famous on a worldwide scale. Using either locally grown fruit from their own farms, other local growers or even sources from around the world, the fruit used in the jam is always at the highest quality. The fruit is even hand sorted before it reaches the boiling pots.

It's not just jam that Wilkin & Sons produce. Their products range from conserves to honey and marmalade to savouries like tomato ketchup, brown sauce and chutney.

If you're ever in the area I strongly recommend the tour of the Wilkin & Sons factory and the jam shop.

For more information on the products they produce and where they can be purchased, click here. You can even enter your postcode and the site will show the closest store where you can buy their yummy jam.

Telephone: 01621 815407
Email: tiptree@tiptree.com
Address:
Wilkin & Sons Limited,
Tiptree,
Essex
CO5 0RF

Maldon Salt

I don't know about you but one of the few things that can make a good meal better is the seasoning of salt. Growing up, Maldon Salt was always the first choice of seasoning in my family.

Producing this famous salt for the last 200 years, The Maldon Salt Company has attracted attention from some of the countries most famous and renowned chefs from Delia Smith to Jamie Oliver. Delia Smith has infact been a longtime supporter of Maldon Sea Salt and lists it among her essential ingredients.

Alongside salt, The Maldon Salt Company also produce organic black pepper.

For more information including example recipes of where this salt is used from chefs such as Delia Smith and where you can purchase this legendary seasoning, Click Here

Telephone: 01621 853315
Fax: 01621 858191
Email: info@maldonsalt.co.uk