Dartmoor Farmers ASSOCIATION HONOURED WITH three major WESTCOUNTRY food awards

The very best regional food and drink products, producers and retail and hospitality establishments were recently honoured at the prestigious final ceremony of the Taste of the West Awards 2011 sponsored by Waitrose.  Held at the Eden Project, Cornwall, in the Mediterranean Biome, the well-known broadcaster, journalist and food and drink critic, Nigel Barden presented a total of 30 awards including the coveted Champion Product Award, 19 Best of Category product winners, Best New Product, Best Packaging and five South West Regional Hospitality and Retail awards. After a welcoming drinks reception, guests enjoyed a lunch of award-winning produce sourced entirely from the South West.

Dartmoor Farmers were honoured to receive the "Best of Meat and Poultry Award" for their Sirloin of beef roasting Joint which was featured in the main course of the presentation lunch. This is the second consecutive time they have been presented with this award having won the category with their "Two boned Rack of Lamb "in 2010.

ALSO

The" Champion Product Award "went to Dartmoor Farmers of Devon for their Sirloin of Beef Roasting Joint. Judge Rick Stein said, "This product is exactly what West Country food should be all about. Outstanding flavour, beautifully well hung and clearly great expertise has gone into producing such a wonderful piece of meat." The Champion Product Award is considered the ultimate "Oscar" of the South West food accolades.

AND FINALLY

The Dartmoor Farmers Association secured the "Carol Trewin South West Producer of the Year Award", sponsored by Mole Valley. The judges confirmed that choosing the winner of this category was particularly difficult due to the outstanding calibre of the finalists. On choosing Dartmoor Farmers, the judges said, "The winner provides us all with huge inspiration for what can be achieved and is a great innovative business model, with impressive reach and influence. They have far reaching goals and achievements - the benefits of which will be felt for years. They have worked together to solve what many have long thought was an insolvable problem - how to manage sustainably one of the region's finest jewels of the countryside by adding value to their primary product. It was a cracking entry!"

Phil Coaker, Chairman of Dartmoor Farmers Association, Runnage Farm, Dartmoor

Speaking on behalf of the 50 participating members of the Dartmoor Farmers Association, we are delighted to have been so highly rewarded in the 2011 ToTW Awards.  This is truly the pinnacle of our combined efforts and achievements to date. Five years ago, our humble beginnings were supported by a Devon Renaissance Grant which enabled us to start a business platform from which to market supreme quality beef and lamb grown and produced on the hills of Dartmoor.

From the outset we were inspired by HRH Prince Charles whose support for the Dartmoor Farmers Association was key to the development of such a successful business model. Fundamental to the brand's popularity has been the quality of the product and the pride we take in producing it - we hope to represent all that is great about Dartmoor. We are conscious of the need to sustainably manage this beautiful place and recognise what a privilege it is to farm here.  We all recognise the value of managing our resource in an environmentally sensitive way.

We want Dartmoor Farmers Real Beef and Lamb to take its rightful place alongside other recognised premium brands that offer true provenance and we want to guarantee quality eating experiences that can only be associated with beef and lamb raised on predominantly grass fed systems, utilizing both moorland grazing and traditional pastures found on our Dartmoor family farms. Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

DARTMOOR FARMERS REAL BEEF AND LAMB IS AVAILABLE TO BOTH RETAIL AND WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FROM THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIERS WHO HAVE THIS TO SAY ABOUT US,

David Carter, General Manager of" Lloyd Maunder West Country Family Butchers"

We are delighted to have such a strong association with the Dartmoor Farmers Association.. We sell what is in our view, the best beef and lamb available to our customers.  We currently retail the product out of 8 local butcheries and we plan to roll the service out across the full portfolio in the near future. Contact: tel 01392 432 782

Paul Gibbins, partner," J&A Gibbins Quality Meats", Catering Butchers, Exeter

"We are continually searching to bring our catering customers a comprehensive range of locally sourced, premium quality products. Chefs want the best tasting meat in the region with true provenance and without exception, the slow grown, slowly matured approach to rearing Dartmoor's native, grass-fed livestock gives this beef from Dartmoor Farmers an exceptional flavour and quality."

Additional testimonials from producers, customers and supporters;

Ed Williams, Director of Dartmoor Farmers Limited and beef farmer at Haytor.

We have known all along that we had a great product and this award is testimony to it. We haven't been trying to re-invent the wheel.  We just want people living locally and visiting Dartmoor to appreciate what a fantastic place Dartmoor is to farm, and to taste and enjoy the end product of our efforts for themselves. Excellent and tasty meat that has been farmed and processed virtually on their doorstep

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel 01364 661 350

Jay McCoy, Manager, Mole Valley Farmers, Newton Abbot

Congratulations on your success in the TOTW 2011 awards; we're really thrilled to be supplied by the Dartmoor Farmers Association because you represent a first class product of excellent quality.  The DFA have worked really hard over the last few years and this success is well deserved.  Contact: tel 01626 836 555

JK Richardson, Raleigh, Surrey.

Congratulations to you all - it's such a privilege to be able to enjoy a Taste of Dartmoor through your award winning Beef box Scheme up here in Surrey.

Dr Kevin Bishop, National Park Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority

The vital link between quality of produce and quality of the National Park environment is well reflected in this Award.  The Authority congratulates all those involved. Contact: tel 01626 830 093

David and Karen Moxham The Castle Inn at Lydford

We are delighted to hear about your success on Tuesday down at the Eden project.  We serve our guests award winning pies, and we know that your delicious beef and lamb is critical to taste and flavour.  Well done and keep it up. Contact: 01822 820241

Claudia Brookes, The Carpenter's Arms, Ilsington.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Dartmoor Farmers Association.  We take pride in serving your beef and lamb in our much loved local village pub.  We try and ensure all our customers know exactly where the food on their plates comes from and we are told on a daily basis that our rib-eye steak and steak and ale pie are the best dishes on the menu. Contact: 01364 661 692

For further details of the Dartmoor Farmers Association and Dartmoor Farmers Ltd visit

www.dartmoorfarmers.co.uk

Or ring   Richard Dean (Marketing)    07713646691