A new farm shop, featuring its own wine, apple juice and premium beef produce is launching from Saturday, December 1.
Lavenham Brook farm shop, at Brook Farm, Brent Eleigh, near Lavenham, will be run by produce manager Matthew Wilsher and farm manager Chris Thomas and opens on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 3pm.
It will showcase some of the produce which Lavenham Brook already supplies to local businesses and restaurants.
“We are now the proud owners of 150 acres of rolling Suffolk country, producing high-welfare beef from our award-winning herd of Suffolk-native Red Poll cows, pure apple juice from rare English heritage varieties, and wines from grapes that are perfectly suited to the south-facing slopes on which they grow,” said Matthew. “We are very excited that our sparkling 2016 wine is available now just in time for Christmas and the grapes from this year’s harvest will also be used to develop a few different wines that will be available in 2019 and 2020.
Lavenham Brook was set up in 2003 and sold to Lady Getty in 2015, when it was re-branded.
Over the past three and a half years, it has increased the size of the herd and begun to process and sell its beef directly from the farm.
This year it has exhibited at various events including Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival, as well as Lavenham Farmer’s Market which it attends every fourth Sunday of the month. Christmas dates include Lavenham Christmas Fair between December 7 and 9, and an event at Nethergate Brewery on December 15.
“We have increased production of wine and apple juice over recent years and are now stocking local business and restaurants,” said Matthew.
“We have a number of local people who assist at the farm and we also get a great amount of support from the owners at events and markets. The vineyard and orchard are managed using local people who assist with work throughout the spring and summer, leading to the grape and apple harvest in September and October.”
He added: “With the opening of the shop we hope to offer customers a regular outlet for all our produce and we have some superb discounts over the festive period.”
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