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We make every effort to source good local produce and to support small independent traders whenever we can. Why? Because we are disturbed by the control that supermarkets now have over our lives and, more particularly, over what we eat. How can we put any trust in the quality or the efficacy of supermarket food when we are so far removed from its source? With their loyalty to their shareholders, rather than to their customers, supermarkets are concerned only with the bottom line and, as a result, the quality of our food is being compromised. By buying our produce direct from a local producer or through an independent trader, we are that much closer to its origins and can exert some real choice and control.
 We feel privileged to live in a county that is so rich in fresh produce and fortunate that our market towns support an interesting and diverse range of independent traders. We value the relationships we have developed with our suppliers and have no hesitation in admitting that the shopping experience is ‘fun’ now that we have made a conscious effort not to push a trolley or stand in long check-out queues.
 Of course we must not forget the farmers’ markets which provide a valuable opportunity to meet the growers and producers in person. The bi-monthly one in Hereford allows us to pick up our supplies of the very best bacon and sausage from Gordon Tudge, Food Hero! In addition we can buy fruit and vegetables direct from the growers – apples that do not have to conform to a standard colour or shape and parsnips with a bit of mud on them! No oranges or kiwi fruit here, just what is fresh, in season and has travelled only a few of miles to get there.
Just for the record, here is a list of the independent traders we buy from, as well as a list of sources for everything we use at Aspen House. We make no apologies for the length of this list because we feel everyone deserves a mention.
Local suppliers
Carey Organics, Whitethorn Farm, Carey : 07831 277623
Superb range of organic fruit and vegetables – best garlic this side of France! Plus the most delicious Oxford & Sandy Black pork, fed on all the surplus vegetables, strawberries and apples.
Field Fayre, 18 Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye : 01989 566683 www.field-fayre.co.uk
Everything organic from milk and butter to porridge oats and wine
Fodder Wholefoods, 27 Church Street, Hereford : 01432 358171
Wholefoods, fresh fruit and vegetables and an irresistible array of plants for sale on the pavement outside
Munday & Jones, 10 Church Street, Monmouth : 01600 772242
Their impressive and mouthwatering range of fresh fruit and vegetables is extended to an attractive display outside the shop
Pengethley Farm Shop, Peterstow : 01989 730430 www.thebestof.co.uk/hereford
Our local farm shop – fresh fruit, veg, bread and dairy produce, game, rare breed beef, pork and lamb, plus some wonderful dry goods from local suppliers (e.g. infused oils from Castle Aromatics, Ross, or jars of olives from Osmin Olives, Leintwardine)
Shared Harvest, Woolhope : 01989 740312
A brilliant box scheme with a really good selection of seasonal fruit and veg. Plus sensational unpasteurised real milk from a Jersey herd near Bosbury.
The Market Garden, 26 Broad Street, Ross-on-Wye : 01989 564609
Stocked over 10 varieties of apple on Apple Day. Has a wealth of knowledge. Can advise you on the best sort of potato to grow for your area.
The Mousetrap, Hereford : 01432 353423 www.mousetrapcheese.co.uk
A huge range of artisan cheeses, many of them local – all of them real!
Treberva Fruit Farm, Much Birch : 01981 540306
Almost the last stronghold of pick-your-own! All manner of soft fruits, plus plums and a good variety of vegetables
Truffles, 46 High Street, Ross on Wye : 01989 762336 www.wyenot.com/truffles
The local deli – lots of local products (and supplier of Polish sausage!)
Wyedean Wholefoods, 4 Gloucester Road, Ross-on-Wye 01989 562340
Wholefoods and environmentally friendly dry goods
Primary producers
All the meat we use is traditionally farmed.
Beef
- Belted Galloway – Rob Lloyd, Food From Here, Cothill Farm, Turnastone : 01981 550254 www.foodfromhere.net
- Hereford – from the Llandinabo pedigree herd – via Pengethley Farm Shop : 01989 730430 www.thebestof.co.uk/hereford
- Gloucester Shorthorn – via Pengethley Farm Shop : 01989 730430
- Dexter – Tony Limb, The Moors Farm, Sollers Hope : 01989 740679
- Veal (rosé beef) – Will Edwards, White House Farm, How Caple : 01989 740606
Chicken
Duck
Lamb
- Jacob – Liz Roberts, Peterstow : 01989 562434
- Herdwick – Richard Phillips, Brockhampton : 01989 740220
- Balwen – Tony Limb, The Moors Farm, Sollers Hope : 01989 740679
- Kerry – Tony Limb, The Moors Farm, Sollers Hope : 01989 740679
- Clun Forest – Stocktonbury Gardens, Leominster : 01568 613432
Mutton
- Rob Lloyd, Food From Here, Cothill Farm, Turnastone : 01981 550254 www.foodfromhere.net
- Eye Game Larder, Berrington : 01568 615711
Goat and kid
Pork (including sausage and bacon)
Smoked salmon and other products
Venison, rabbits, wild duck
Wild Boar
- Rosie Humphries, Usk Castle : 01291 672563
- Eye Game Larder, Berrington : 01568 615711
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Apple juice
Jus, Ledbury www.jusapples.co.uk
Beer
Wye Valley Brewery, Hereford (Dorothy Goodbody’s) www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk
Spinning Dog Brewery, Hereford www.spinningdogbrewery.co.uk
Freeminer Brewery, Forest of Dean
Butter
The Dairy House, Weobley www.thedairyhouse.co.uk
Netherend Dairy Farm, Lydney, Glos.
Cheese
Monkland Dairy, Leominster www.mousetrapcheese.co.uk
Neals Yard Creamery, Dorstone www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk
The Dairy House, Weobley www.thedairyhouse.co.uk
Malvern Cheesewrights, Worcester
Ansteys, Worcester www.ansteys.com
Lightwood Cheese, Cotheridge www.lightwoodcheese.co.uk
Cothi Valley Goats www.cothivalleygoats.co.uk
Cider
Westons, Much Marcle www.westons-cider.co.uk
Broome Farm, Peterstow
Gwatkin, Abbey Dore
Olivers, Ocle Pychard
Cream
The Dairy House, Weobley www.thedairyhouse.co.uk
Neals Yard Creamery, Dorstone www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk
Cotteswold Dairy, Tewkesbury
Crème fraiche
The Dairy House, Weobley www.thedairyhouse.co.uk
Neals Yard Creamery, Dorstone www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk
Bower Farm, Grosmont (Jersey)
Duck eggs, goose eggs
Colin Smith’s [Market Garden, Ross] duck and goose egg suppliers!
Eggs
various suppliers, all superb!
Sandra Hopkins, Carey
John Edwards, How Caple
Carol Grant, Brockhampton
Colin Smith, Ross on Wye – has eggs from at least 4 local suppliers for sale at different times during the week
Fish
Dave Benjamin’s fish stall, Hereford market
mobile fish stall, Ross Thursday market
Flour
Bacheldre Water Mill, Montgomery www.bacheldremill.co.uk
Herbs
From our own garden, or from
Malvern View Herbs, Upton-on-Severn
Honey
Sandra Hopkins, Carey
Colin Pavey, Brockhampton
Wye Valley Apiaries
Ross on Wye Honey
Milk
Beaconhill Farm, Bosbury (unpasteurised)
Bartonsham Farm, Hereford
Cotteswold Dairy, Tewkesbury
Perry and cider vinegar
Westons, Much Marcle www.westons-cider.co.uk
Soap
made in the Forest of Dean, supplied by Hempish, Monmouth www.hempish.com
Spring water (still and sparking)
Berrington Water, Madley
Tea, coffee, sugar
though no local growers, all Fair Trade products and mostly bought from an independent supplier called The Fairground www.fairgroundcoffee.co.uk |
