2007 Farmers Nominees
An expert judging panel, led by Lloyds TSB Agriculture, reviewed the farmers nominated by the public during the past three months and have shortlisted six. We are looking for the Sussex farmer who has made the biggest contribution to promoting local produce in the county. The winner will now be selected by YOU, so please vote for one of the six finalists below. The deadline to vote for your favourite farmer is 9th November!
Farmer Cathy Swingland – Mayfield, East Sussex
Feel good about farming, feel good about food
Farmer Cathy Swingland runs Clayton Farm and the Hen on the Gate Farm Shop in the beautiful Wealden countryside in Mayfield, East Sussex. The farm produces award winning meat and eggs to the Soil Association’s organic standard, with 25 pedigree Sussex breeding cattle, 120 ewes and South Down rams, 600 laying hens, 400 free range table meat birds, nine breeding sows and 230 turkeys.
The farm is a small, family-owned and run farm and Cathy and her family are passionate about high quality, locally-produced food. Cathy has run the farm for nine years, but has lived there for 21 years, running a smallholding before buying the land to set up the farm. The Hen on the Gate Farm Shop sells home-produced organic meat and eggs, locally sourced organic produce and game and groceries and locally- caught fish. It includes a shop, art gallery exhibiting local artists and a café. Cathy also runs farm open days four times a year.
Cathy has gone that extra mile to promote Sussex produce to the local market by always selling produce direct rather then selling to wholesalers or supermarkets. This ensures consumers always know where their meat and eggs came from. Her farm shop has just moved to new, larger premises and through this she promotes local and organic produce. She believes produce should be consumed close to where it was produced and that consumers should feel connected to the process. This is fundamental to her organic values.
Cathy said: “My slogan for the farm is ‘feel good about farming, feel good about food’. I believe it’s very important to know about the farming process in Sussex and feel good about it and feel good about our beautiful landscape and want to preserve it.”
Farmer Tim Hoare – Funtington, Chichester, West Sussex
GM free and high animal welfare standards
Farmer Tim Hoare runs Adsdean Farm ten minutes from the village of Bosham, in a unique spot where the South Downs meets the coastline, with fantastic views of the Solent. The 300-acre farm focuses on free-range pigs and cattle and has 240 acres of arable crops. Tim grows GM free food and concentrates on high welfare standards for his herds. Tim and his pigs have appeared on the BBC TV programme ‘Great British Menu’, where a local chef used his pork because of its excellent quality.
The Hoare family have owned and run the farm for over 50 years and there are currently three generations of the family on the farm. As well as the farm, they have self-catering accommodation for holidays, office lets and a popular farm shop, which has been open since 1970. The shop sells mainly home produced meat and home cured bacon, sausages, cooked meats and lamb from their neighbours’ farms. The shop employs three full time butchers and attracts 300-400 people a week, mostly locals yet some customers travel afield.
Tim Hoare feels he has gone that extra mile to promote Sussex produce to the local market by being genuine about what he sells and always ensuring a good service. He is passionate about selling produce he has produced and takes time out from farming to work in the shop at least once a week.
Tim said “I think it’s important to buy locally- not only is it good for the local economy, it’s good for people to know where their food is from and this makes it more interesting.”
Lord March – Goodwood Estate, West Sussex
Compassionate animal rearing and 100% traceability
The Earl of March owns Home Farm on the Goodwood Estate set in the heart of West Sussex, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. The farm extends to 2,800 acres and is farmed as a mixed holding, with livestock including 200 dairy Shorthorn cows, 160 beef cattle, 1,200 South Down sheep and 20 Saddleback sows (these pigs live in the woods in the heart of the Goodwood forest) It also has considerable arable land, including oats, barley, peas, beans, etc. The farm is managed by Karl Barton (pictured) who has been working on the farm since 2001.
The Goodwood Estate has been in the family for over 300 years. Goodwood is the only lowland farm in Europe capable of feeding all its animals all year round on home grown organic food. These sustainable methods ensure the quality and flavour of their farm produce, together with 100% traceability.
The farm produces supplies for private entertaining and corporate events at Goodwood House. Visitors to the large-scale events at the estate can enjoy Home Farm’s food and the farm produces food for two cafes on the estate as well as the farm shop. The farm shop ensures this wholesome and traceable food is available all year round to the local area, along with other locally-sourced, organic produce. They also host farm walks and talks to improve public knowledge of organic farming benefits.
Lord March says: “Goodwood is thoroughly committed to providing local, organic and home-grown produce for the local community, all the year round. We are keen to promote the idea of local food for local people - food that people can trust from a farm that is run entirely on organic principles including compassionate animal rearing and husbandry.”
Farm manager Karl said: “There are many reasons why people should buy locally and buy from their local farmers. Firstly, to support the farmers, secondly to know what they are eating and where it came from, thirdly to reduce food miles and finally for health reasons, food bought direct from farms is healthier as no preservatives or chemicals to extend shelf life. Farms are also welcoming to children and this is important so that we can increase awareness of the whole food production process from land to shop to plate. Buying locally increases the personal involvement so people know where their food comes from and what it’s all about.”
Farmer Martin Hole – Hankham, nr Pevensey, East Sussex
Good farming protects the Sussex landscape
Farmer Martin Hole runs Montague Organic Farm and Nature reserve in Hankham. The family-run farm is situated on the western edge of the Pevensey Levels, running southwards from the Pevensey Castle across extensive grazing marshes to outcropping Tunbridge Wells sandstone. He has run the farm since 1994 and has increased its size, made it organic and set up the nature reserve.
The farm ranges over 300 acres, all permanent grass, some three quarters of it designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is a wetland of international importance.
The organic, grass only, beef and lamb production systems sit within a land use context entirely ruled by the wildlife and seasonability of the wetlands and herb rich, orchid- filled meadows.
Promoting Sussex produce is very important to Martin. He is the director of the Sussex Producers Consortium, a meat marketing group where he aims to encourage farmers to invest in marketing in Sussex to encourage more people to buy Sussex produce. His farm aims to sell half of their produce in Sussex through local infrastructures. The nature reserve is a unique way of helping people identify food with the landscape and he has worked hard to deliver a more vibrant landscape where he can sell food from.
Martin said: “Its important to support local produce and farmers because it’s healthier, great for the local environment and is more environmentally friendly as the food is not dependent on vast journeys and huge lorries. It’s also good to know where your food is coming from and I believe buying locally builds stronger communities, which is very important.”
Farmers Shon and Simon Sprackling – near Rogate in West Sussex
Creators of Rother Valley Organics
Brothers Shon and Simon Sprackling run Sandilands Farm in West Sussex. Their farm encompasses land, which stretches from Rogate, north of the South Downs to Thorney Island on the Hampshire coast and boasts some of the finest organic grazing in the country. The farm focuses on beef cattle, pigs and sheep, which they sell themselves through their own company Rother Valley Organics.
The brothers launched Rother Valley Organics in early 2004. The idea was to sell organic meat direct to customers’ doors – handling the entire process literally from pasture to plate and in doing so, helping preserve some of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the South Downs whilst providing a lifeline for other local farmers.
The brothers sell their own organic Aberdeen Angus beef, pork and lamb, but are also working with other local farmers to offer a wider choice of organic meats such as chicken and other organic breeds. Part of the company’s proposition is that all the meat is fully traceable and the Spracklings have even built their own on-site butchery where they employ master butchers to ensure the meat is cut and presented to the highest standards. The venture is already attracting custom from people who not only care where their food has come from and how it has been treated, but also want to help the local environment and economy.
Shon said: “People who buy their meat from Rother Valley Organics know that in a small way they are helping to support the local community and the environment they live in. Local food is all about trust, sustainability and quality. This is always our main objective.”
Farmers Trevor and Jenny Passmore – Lancing, Coombes, West Sussex
Speaking out for Sussex produce
Brother and Sister, Trevor and Jenny Passmore, run Church Farm in Coombes, a small village in West Sussex set against the backdrop of the South Downs and only a stone’s throw away from the English Channel.
The farm rears Sussex beef cattle and sheep. They have 800 ewes and lambs and 80 cows and calves on 1000 acres of land. The Passmore family has run the farm in its current location since 1901. Originally the family farmed in Devon but moved to West Sussex to produce fresh food for London. It has been handed down through the family ever since.
In 1979 Jenny started running farm tours for schools with the aim of showing people where their food comes from and to promote British and Sussex farming. They also run Land Rover trips around the farm and tractor and trailer farm tours. In a newly-built barn Jenny and Trevor run various events such as barn dances and musical evenings for these and the growing number of weddings they encourage British and local catering
Trevor also runs fishing lakes on the farm and pioneering projects with schools for children with learning difficulties. Also he is the county chairman for the National Farmers Union (NFU) and therefore has a lot of involvement in promoting local farms and produce.
The Passmores have gone that extra mile to promote Sussex produce to the local market in several ways. Their school tours and open days attract a lot of visitors, with an impressive 10,000 people coming to see the lambing this year, which they see as a great way of promoting local farming and encouraging people to ‘buy British’.
Theirs is a high profile farm and the Passmores are often asked for comments by the press on general farming issues. Through these interviews, they always encourage readers and listeners to buy British and local. Through Trevor’s work with the NFU, they often have stands at events promoting the NFU local farming.
Jenny Passmore said: “I always encourage people to buy local because it’s just the best! It uses less food miles and it’s good for people to know and see where their food is coming from. When I encourage people to buy British food, I always tell them to look for the little red tractor on labels.”
