Essex Farm Hosts Goose Walk
UK - Goose producers from all over the country will be converging on an Essex farm next week to see how the Blackwell family has expanded output by 50 per cent in the past six years to supply growing Christmas demand.
12 October 2011
2 minute read
On Friday 21 October, Howard and Jane Blackwell will be hosting members of British Goose Producers at Herons Farm in Coggeshall near Colchester, where they are rearing almost 1,900 geese this autumn.
They are finding increasing demand from all sections of the market – farm-gate, butchers, food halls, pubs and restaurants – and are benefiting from the Rare Breed Meat Company which they set up in 2004 to supply this trade mainly inside the M25.
More than 200 geese are sold through their farm shop, chosen as a finalist in the Best Farm Shop competition run by Essex Life magazine.
The farm is on the celebrated Marks Hall estate where the Blackwell family have been rearing poultry in the traditional style for four generations. Today, they produce geese, turkeys and Gloucester Old Spot pigs.
The Rare Breed Meat Company sells free range, traditional and niche products, with a team of butchers supplying carcass and portioned meat, home made pies, pastries and ready meals.
"We're committed to local suppliers and over 90 per cent of the produce we market is sourced within 20 miles of Herons Farm," says Mr Blackwell.
