Powered By Blogger

Saturday 3 August 2013

PRESS RELEASE


PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday 31 July 2013

For immediate release

HAMPSHIRE CHARCUTERIE TAKES A BOW

After two years of training and hard work a group of local pig farmers today unveiled their own range of charcuterie to the public. The producers were honoured to welcome HRH The Countess of Wessex to their stand at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show to officially launch Hampshire Charcuterie.

The launch marked the culmination of the ‘Preserving the Hampshire Hog’ project which was created and led by the county food group, Hampshire Fare and supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund. The project was designed to tackle the challenges faced by pig farmers including increasing feed costs and a lack of European funding. The future was looking uncertain for our local pig farmers with many losing £20 per pig reared.

Two years on and the farmers involved in the project are now more confident about the sustainability of their businesses. The project has given them the opportunity to have training from charcuterie expert, Marc-Frederic Berry. As evident at today’s New Forest and Hampshire County Show they are now skilled charcutiers themselves with the ability to create salami, chorizo, pâté, bresaola, pancetta from their locally reared meat. This diversification into new products extends the shelf life of the producers’ meat through curing and adds value to the meat.

Hampshire Charcuterie was launched by HRH The Countess of Wessex during today’s New Forest and Hampshire County Show. After chatting to the producers and sampling some charcuterie the Countess unveiled a wooden plaque to mark the start of Hampshire Charcuterie. Mike Wright, Chairman of Hampshire Fare, spoke at the launch:

“Hampshire Fare has worked closely with local producers to deliver an innovative project. We are extremely proud of the outcome. The success of the project is evident in today’s amazing display of delicious charcuterie made from Hampshire meat by our talented local producers.

The project has only been possible thanks to the support of The Prince’s Countryside Fund and the talents of Marc-Frederic Berry. We are all very excited about the future of Hampshire Charcuterie. We ask local restaurants to get behind the products and feature them on their menus and for members of the public to support Hampshire Charcuterie too. Help us to preserve the Hampshire hog!”

The Hampshire Charcuterie stand certainly drew in the crowds at today’s show with visitors commenting on the array of flavours and quality of the products. Rob Golding from Hayling Island was impressed by the salami: “It is delicious and it is great that we can buy it and be supporting local producers. I also like the idea of knowing the provenance of the charcuterie and the fact that it is great quality.”

Hampshire Charcuterie is being produced across the county by independent producers working together on the range. For more details of how to try and buy Hampshire Charcuterie visit www.hampshirecharcuterie.co.uk or call Hampshire Fare on 01962 847098.

Charcuterie – explained by the expert, Marc-Frederic, in his book ‘Le Charcutier Anglais’.

“Charcuterie is the artisan skill of taking raw meat and preserving it by curing, smoking, cooking or a combination of all three methods. Some examples are; Jambon, Boudin Noir, Gayettes, Fromage de Tête and Pâté en Croute (translated as ham, black pudding, faggots, brawn, and pork pies) – to name just a few.”

ENDS

·     Images – press photographers were in attendance but a link to photos will be circulated by Hampshire Fare as soon they have been approved by the Royal press office.

·     ‘Preserving the Hampshire Hog’ was launched in 2011 by Hampshire Fare. The project has engaged more than 30 farmers and producers with more than 10 now stocking their own Hampshire Charcuterie. The project was funded by The Prince’s Countryside Fund. More background about the project is available online: http://www.hampshirefare.co.uk/pages/PreservingtheHampshireHog.asp


·         Comments from project participants: Martin Martindale from Greenfield Pork Products “The project has taught me a whole range of techniques I didn’t know and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn. I have been able to experiment with these new skills to come up with a range of charcuterie I can now offer my customers. Over time I can see that it is really going to help my business,”

Simon Broadribb from Uptons of Bassett: “The project has inspired me to do more and create new products. We now offer products including lardo, chorizo and black pudding. The reaction from the public has been really encouraging.”

Hampshire Fare is supported by Hampshire County Council, together with Hampshire Fare’s Corporate Partners: Ecover UK LTD, Fuller Smith & Turner, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Ideal Collection, leepeckGroup, Newsquest (Southern) UK, Sparsholt College, The Southern Co-operative and Wave 105; and our Corporate Friends: Apollo Internet Media, Ascot Racecourse Ltd, Business Solent, Guildhall Winchester, Handover HR, The National Trust, New Forest & Hampshire County Show, NFU Mutual, Starfish Creative Design, Upham Brewery. Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Hampshire and New Forest Marque are Strategic Partners.

Hampshire Fare aims to:

·     increase awareness among the public and trade of the wide range of local produce available

·     champion local food, drink and craft

·     foster good business practice and assist producers to compete as viable enterprises

·     encourage high standards of production and presentation

·     organise marketing activities - festivals, exhibitions and promotions - to promote food, drink and craft from Hampshire

·     develop initiatives to incorporate local food and drink into public sector menus

For further information please contact:
Nancy Judge
PR Officer
Nancy.Judge@hampshirefare.co.uk
01962 845435
Visit our website and sign up for our e-newsletter at: www.hampshirefare.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HampshireFare
Like us on Facebook
Hampshire Fare C.I.C.

No comments:

Post a Comment