It's now possible to get a true taste of Exmoor at home by buying grass-fed lamb direct from some of the area’s passionate farmers and producers.
A new list of farms supplying lamb direct and an accompanying film has been released and is available online from Exmoor Hill Farming Network (EHFN), Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA), Visit Exmoor and Edible Exmoor.
Grass-fed Exmoor lamb can often be found on the menus of the area’s award-winning restaurants but this is the first time a supply chain has been developed for people to enjoy the product at home.
One of the farmers supplying direct is Holly Purdey at Horner Farm.
She said: “We farm in the Porlock Vale working with nature to ensure biodiversity across the farm is being restored, building a healthy environment for us all while producing a delicious, nutritious product.
"We keep native-breed ewes, ensuring our lambs grow at their own speed, resulting in the perfect balance of flavour, fat and tenderness.”
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Katrina Munro, who works on ENPA’s Eat Exmoor initiative, is promoting the benefits of buying local food.
She said: “One thing we should all be taking away from the lockdown experience is the vital importance of food security and supply.
"Local producers and shops have been at the heart of keeping people fed and now we need to ensure they continue to benefit from our support.
"By buying produce from Exmoor you’ll be helping our rural economy recover as well as doing your bit to protect the environment and conserve the beautiful landscapes of Exmoor.”
The succulent juiciness and characteristic flavour of Exmoor lamb won over diners at an event at Woods in Dulverton at the end of 2019. Restaurateur and producer Paddy Groves served lamb cutlets from four regions across the UK and the Exmoor grass-fed lamb was the most popular in a blind-tasting, with customers using words like ‘delicious’ and ‘cuts like butter’. The event features in a short film celebrating the quality and benefits of Exmoor grass-fed lamb available at exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/eat-exmoor.
The EHFN is welcoming enquiries from retail, food and hospitality businesses who wish to supply Exmoor lamb direct to customers. Contact katherine@ehfn.org.uk for more details.
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