Looking to stock up on some of the finest produce Norfolk has to offer? Why not head over to one of Norfolk's many farm shops to pick up fresh fruit, vegetables, meat as well as various other products such as homemade cakes, cheeses. pastries, jams and chutneys. Here's a look at just a few of the stores you could visit across the county.
• Walsingham Farms Shop, Guild Street, Little Walsingham
Walsingham has two farm shops for customers to peruse, one located in the pilgrimage village of Little Walsingham and the other housed in a renovated barn at Norfolk Lavender Farm in Heacham. The two stores boast a large selection of local products, including Algy's corn from Bintree, Allen pork from Morley Farm in South Creake, fish and meats smoked over oak at the Cley Smokehouse and fresh tomatoes and chutneys produced by Cornerways Nursery near Downham Market.
• Back to the Garden, Letheringsett, Holt
The stylishly converted barn that is home to Back to the Garden is filled with a vast range of organic and artisan food, including Angus-sired beef, lamb, chicken, geese and turkey, all of which have been organically raised on their farm, fresh fruit and vegetables also from their farm, and a selection of fine British cheeses, salami as well as homemade items from their kitchen such as pastries. They also stock a range of wines, real ales, vinegars and specialist chocolate. As well as a shop, you'll also find a cafe/restaurant with an extensive menu in the barn, where regular themed evenings and events are held.
• Wiveton Hall Farm Shop, Wiveton Hall, Holt
By now, everyone has heard of Wiveton Hall Farm, the location featured in BBC Two's Normal for Norfolk documentary. As well as being home to the eccentric Desmond MacCarthy, the grounds also contain an array of attractions, such as a farm shop, restaurant, gardens, holiday cottages and an area where guests can pick their own fruit and vegetables. The farm and gift shop is popular with visitors who can purchase a range of seasonal produce and homemade jams, marmalades and chutneys as well as kitchen-ware, prints, toys, books and crafts from there.
• Green Pastures Plant Centre and Farm Shop, Mill Road, Bergh Apton
A short drive from Norwich city centre will take you to Green Pastures, which sells a variety of seasonal produce from their own family-run farm, as well as items from other local farmers and producers. This range features fruit, vegetables, fresh and cooked meats, homemade bread, cakes, and pies, as well as milk, eggs, ice cream and much more.
• Norfolk Farm Shop, Unit 1 The Field, Fir Covert Road, Taverham
Passionate about avoiding 'food miles', Norfolk Farm Shop try to only stock local produce, most of which is grown in Aylsham, Frettenham or Felthorpe. Also available is bread from Ketts Hill Bakery, Norfolk real ales, locally produced cheeses, meats, honey, chutneys, cakes and biscuits. As well as regular groceries, the company also prepare fruit baskets and complete cheese boards to order and have recently started supplying cheese wedding cakes, made from local cheeses such as Binham Blue and Norfolk Mardler.
• Groveland Farm Shop, Thorpe Market Road, Roughton
Located just three miles south of Cromer is Groveland Farm Shop, a large complex which offers more than just fresh produce, with a restaurant and coffee shop, delicatessen, butchery, wine cellar, garden centre, craft shop, car wash, hair and beauty salon and boutique also on the site. In terms of local produce, a market-style display of vegetables such as potatoes, onions, carrots, squashes and celariac can be found, as well as a selection of fresh fruit. The butchers stocks Blythburgh free range pork and Great Gove Poultry, while Mrs Temple's Binham Blue, Walsingham Nature and Norfolk dapple chesses can all be purchased from the deli counter as well as Groveland's own cured meats, homemade scotch eggs, and sausage rolls.
• Knight's Hill Farm Shop, South Wootton, King's Lynn
Knight's Hill Farm Shop stocks a range of produce from two main suppliers - C.C Wells of Norfolk, based in Dereham and Fresh Approach in Alysham. The shop also sells their own strawberries and raspberries, which they have been growing for over 50 years and are handpicked fresh each morning, as well as bread from the Krusty Loaf Bakery, Havensfield eggs, Fathersons cakes, Sandringham apple juice and Bonallack Granola.
• Algy's Farm Shop
Algy is the third generation Garrod to farm at Manor Farm, carrying on the tradition started by his grandfather in 1931 after taking over tenancy of the land from the Earl of Leicester. More recently the farm has become well-known as the home of The Norfolk Popcorn Company, which launched in 2012 and was established by Richard Garrod who mastered the art of growing and drying the corn. The popcorn is available in store in flavours such as sweet, salty and Algy's revenge chilli. Moreover, the shop also sells locally grown produce specialising in soft fruit, asparagus, pimpkins, squashes, and a full range of bird seeds.
• Orchard Farm Shop, Holverston, Norwich
Over the past six years, Orchard Farm Shop in Holverston, a farm butchery company, have been providing visitors with a selection of their own fresh pork, beef, lamb, chicken and game, as well as extras such as oils, eggs, cakes, pickles, apple juice, jellies, honey, sauces and stuffing mixes. Some of their most popular items include chicken breasts stuffed with sausagemeat and stilton cheese, wrapped in streaky bacon, as well as pork stir fry.
• White House Farm, off Blue Boar Lane, Sprowston
This family farm, situated a stone's throw from the city centre, dates back 150 years. But under the guidance of Charlotte and Oliver Gurney its traditional pick-your-own venture has been given a new lease of life in recent years, with a crumbling old cart shed transformed into a vibrant café and farm shop. An in-house butcher's counter was added last year, with a fine array of local meats.
Among the regular events is a monthly Farmers' Market giving customers the chance to meet the shop's producers first hand, including Nortons Dairy, Candis Chutney, BonBakery Biscotti, as well as sampling locally-made teas, jams, plants and even soaps.
• What's your favourite farm shop in Norfolk? Let us know in the commments below.
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