MP Bob Seely has praised the work of a new Island business that is helping to reduce food miles by expanding the choice of locally sourced products.
The Isle of Wight Farm Shop at Godshill is under new management and expanding the range of local produce on offer.
Bob said it was 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 Seely said: “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 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, said: “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.”
