A Royal engagement for Hampshire charcuterie makers
Hampshire Fare members, Parsonage Farm, were invited to showcase their range of charcuterie at the summer garden party at Clarence House in celebration of the Prince's Countryside Fund.
HRH The Prince of Wales, hosted a summer garden party for the Prince's Countryside Fund in May at Clarence House. Many of the Fund's beneficiaries, supporters and ambassadors attended to celebrate the Fund reaching the huge milestone having awarding over 200 grants.
Parsonage Farm demonstrated how they make really tasty salami. They were joined by Lewis Steer, who showcased his wool products spun from his own flock of Greyface Dartmoor sheep, and beneficiaries from Marchington Community Shop who displayed an array of local Staffordshire produce available on their shelves.
Sarah Mills, from Parsonage Farm, commented on the experience: "We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Clarence House. It was an honour to have the opportunity to tell HRH The Prince of Wales in person about how we have benefitted from the Fund and about our farm and charcuterie."
Parsonage Farm participated in a two-year project launched in 2011 by Hampshire Fare and funded by the Prince's Countryside Fund. To Hampshire Fare it was clear that something needed to be done to save the Hampshire hog and help local pig farmers who were struggling to make ends meet. Training farmers in the art of charcuterie-making provided them with new products that have a longer shelf life so producers can increase their profits.
On Sunday 9th July, Parsonage Farm will be running a charcuterie-making workshop on their farm as part of the Hampshire Food Festival. This special Hampshire-themed workshop will involve making watercress and gin salami using Winchester distillery Twisted Nose Gin and beer and thyme snacking salami using Betteridge's Brewery beer. More gin will be needed to cure some pork for air drying! Lunch will include a selection of Hampshire produce. Find out more.