'Farm Gate to Plate' at Rother Valley
Rother Valley Farm’s Farm Gate Farmers’ Market is now open five days a week! Rother Valley is a family-run farm and traditional butchery, based in Rogate, near Petersfield, which initially established an open-air market in the farm’s courtyard and barn as a way to support the business, local enterprises and the community during the COVID-19 lockdown. The aim was to reconnect the local community with high-welfare, fresh and tasty food from the farm and quality produce from other local artisans within a Covid-safe, open-air, socially distanced market environment.
This Market has proved so successful that it is now open five days a week, from 9am-3pm Wednesday to Sunday inclusive. Visitors will find a wide variety of produce from the Farm and local suppliers, including breads, coffee and cake, cheese, hand-cut flowers, fruit and vegetables, chutneys, cheeses, milk, ice cream and more. As much of the market is covered, people are welcome rain or shine.
The Farm Gate Farmers' Market is in addition to Rother Valley Farm’s online butchers’ shop which sells the Farm’s own free-range, grass-fed, high welfare meat as well as a range of South African products from biltong to boerewors from Wholesome Wolf. With safety paramount, the Farm offers a contact-free delivery service or a free zero physical contact click and collection service..
Part of Rother Valley Farm’s remit is to help preserve the environment. Farm animals are grazed on the Thorney Island marshlands which is high tier environmental ground, SSSI and supports the bird reserve on the island and at Chichester Harbour. Through environmentally aware management and keeping this ground organic, the Farm helps improve the island's biodiversity, including supporting nesting birds and many unusual plant species.
Hampshire Fare highlight other new businesses and developments inspired by supporting local during lockdown – for example The Food Forager, a new online food delivery servcice operating out of Stockbridge in the Test Valley. Read more HERE.
