As a regular and popular supplier at the Hampshire Farmers’ Markets, Hampshire Cheeses are celebrating their double success with their renowned Tunworth Cheese which has won a Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards, making it one of the 50 best cheeses in the world. Out of nearly three thousand cheeses from 30 countries only 50 cheeses are awarded a Super Gold Medal. This is the latest accolade for the cheese which has previously been awarded the Supreme Champion British Cheese.
TV Chef Jamie Oliver also chose Tunworth as one of four other British cheeses to go head to head with the best five French cheeses in a recent episode of his new Channel 4 series ‘Food Fight Club’.
Stacey Hedges, owner of Hampshire Cheeses said: “I am delighted by this prestigious award and it is also a tremendous achievement for such a small company to be picked by Jamie Oliver to represent Britain against France was fantastic. We had great fun making the programme. It’s not every day that you get a congratulatory hug from Jamie Oliver.”
“We have been selling Tunworth at the Hampshire Farmers’ Market since 2005 and it is an excellent way to promote and sell our product and to get feedback from the public. We enjoy the fact that our customers at the market can taste the cheese before they buy and they love talking directly to us. The Hampshire Farmers’ markets are also a great way of meeting other producers and we often work together to promote local food and it is a fantastic community” continued Stacey.
Lyburn Cheese, another regular stallholder at the Hampshire Farmers’ Markets, also picked up a Bronze in the World Cheese Awards for its Old Winchester cheese and Mike Smales, Managing Partner at Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers commented: “Competition was tough with thousands of entries from all over the world and to have two Hampshire Cheeses in the top 50 is pretty amazing. In the 13 years that Hampshire Farmers’ Market has been going, cheese in and around Hampshire has made great strides, to the point where we are able to mix it with the rest of the world and stand our ground. Hampshire Farmers’ Market gave us the foot hold 13 years ago to get through the difficult period for any business, gaining enough momentum and establishing cash flow so we could grow the business.”
Hampshire Farmers’ Market is a community interest not-for-profit organisation holding regular markets across Hampshire and their Business Manager Alex Handford commented: “We are delighted that two of our cheese suppliers have won awards at the World Cheese Awards.
The success of our markets is due to the enthusiasm and dedication of our supplier stallholders, as well as the growing public interest in buying more locally produced seasonal food that offers consumers wider choice.”
The benefits that Hampshire Farmers’ Markets provide are far reaching and numerous, with additional employment created and money kept within the local economy, as well as the reduced impact on the environment and consumers being able to enjoy really fresh produce. Visitors are also able to experience an alternative and vibrant shopping experience.