EAST FARM SHOP February 2010
At East Farm Shop we stock a wide range of local produce, with our main flagship being locally produce quality meat. The concept of the shop is to supply the local community with fresh local meat that has been reared to a very high standard. The meat is hung until it reaches the point when it becomes tender and hen butchered in specific traditional cuts – thus providing that special mouth watering taste when it is prepared for the dinner plate. Beef, pork and lamb are readily available from the shop. So too is a great range of free range chicken from Creedy Carver based in Crediton, Devon. We also stock a good range of game reared from Dorset, prepared for us be the Dorset game larder based at Shapwick. All of these items are very popular so you must be quick to avoid disappointment. However if you would like, you can pre-order items by phone.
Our beef is produced at East Farm, or from other local farms based in Dorset. All beef is reared to the highest welfare standards. At east farm we operate under the CMI assurance scheme, however most British farmers are encouraged to rear livestock under similar schemes to help promote their produce and provided well reared stock. At east farm we currently rear Limousine cross Holstein Friesian beef animals, these are finished at around 24 mths old. They are reared outside on the chalkland pastures, and housed inside during the colder months of the winter. This system ensures that al the goodness from the surrounding chalkland pastures ends up in the flavour of the beef. Similar rearing systems are in operation with all our other beef suppliers.
Our pork is currently coming from East Stour and is reared outside on a free range system. We are also using Gloucester old spot pork for some of our more traditional sausage. These are slightly juicer than say our normal free range ones, and provide a slightly sweeter tasting sausage.
Lamb is produced from all over Dorset, however we do use James Tory lambs from nearby Turnwoth and also Sarah Clarke’s from Milton Abbas throughout the year.
As well as meat, we have a great range of award winning Dorset products, such as fruit and vegetables, dairy product, breads, jams, chutney, pickles, crisps, ice creams and sorbets. We grow quite a range of vegetable at the farm with the help of Jim Tory and our student Mike Curry, this will vary from season to season. Currently we have Parsnips, Savoy cabbages, pumpkins, red onions, white onions, carrots and beetroot. We have won many prizes at Dorset County Show over the years.
From October through to February we stock a good range of seasonal game, this includes Pheasants, Partridge, wild duck, pigeon, rabbit and wild venison. Birds can be bought whole or in parts. For large orders it may be a good idea to pre-order.
