It is not just by luck that Herefordshire is a major food producer. This is a County which produces some of the best food in the country. Beef, lamb, chicken, turkeys, milk, strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, potatoes and apples, to name just some of its renown produce. All these products are found in all supermarkets all over the UK. They come from farms in this very County. They will be packaged with names on them you will all recognise. These sit alongside a mass of other food products…things such as Tyrrells’ crisps, Chase vodka, Hand-made Scotch eggs, Wye Valley beer, Weston’s cider….not to mention countless artisan producers of cheeses, cakes, jams, pickles, ice-cream, yoghurts, perry, cider, oils etc….the list is endless.
We are such prolific producers because we have some of the best soil in the land. Hereford cattle are world famous…they thrive here. Likewise, our sheep benefit from the combination of upland and river meadows. Sun Valley chicken production, now Cargill Meats Europe, supplies notable destinations as McDonalds, Morrisons, Asda and Iceland. Like or loathe them, these big boys take many of their food lines straight out of this county.
The yields from our crops are bountiful because we are blessed with good rich soil and plentiful rain. Our hops are found in some of the best beers in the world. The most famous ciders known are made with Herefordshire apples. We host an internationally acclaimed lager manufacturing business.
None of this is just by chance. It’s what this county is famous for.
Let’s not build executive houses all over our beautiful rich soil, and pollute our environment, let’s just do more of what we do best – growing food. The world needs it.
