Norfolk Farmhouse Ice Cream of North Tuddenham has won the Plough to Plate category, sponsored by Anglia Farmers, in this year’s Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Food Awards.

The innovative ice cream business beat off competition from two other finalists – Horstead Farming Group and Norton’s Dairy in Frettenham.

One of 12 categories – ranging from Best Farm Shop and Best Farmers’ Market to Restaurant of the Year – agricultural purchasing group Anglia Farmers sponsored the Plough to Plate Category as being most relevant for its members.

Judges, which included Anglia Farmers chief executive Clarke Willis, were looking for businesses or charitable organisations which are passionate about promoting sustainable local food and showing their customers, in an innovative way, the connection between food, farming and the natural environment.

They also needed to show real environmental credentials, to have helped build strong relationships across the supply chain and be able to demonstrate their contribution to the local community.

Chief executive Clarke Willis said:

“We congratulate Norfolk Farmhouse Ice Cream and the other finalists.

“I think awards like this are excellent because they reinforce a very positive message to both the producer and consumer that Norfolk delivers some of the best food in the country.

“The Plough to Plate category also raises awareness about where all Norfolk’s good food comes from and the important role our farmers have within the food production supply chain.”

The Finalists

NorfolkFarmhouse Ice Cream – The winner is a true example of plough to plate; taking raw ingredients - milk and egg yolks - from the farm and turning them into ice cream which is sold directly to the customer as well as through farm shops and other local outlets. The judges were impressed by the development over the past 12 months of a successful and viable business. They have invested in a new processing plant and farm shop. There is also proactive marketing at shows and events including the NEC Good Food Show. They add value to milk produced by their own herd and eggs from their own free range flock and use local produce (strawberries and honey for example) to make the ice cream.

Horstead Farming Group (HFG) – Three farm shops and two pick-your-own sites mean that Horstead Farming Group, a co-operation between five family farms, is bringing its own farm produce directly to the population of Norwich and Norfolk. Since the first farm shop opened at Beeston St Andrew it has gone from strength to strength, with the latest addition, a shop at Notcutts garden centre in Norwich, having opened earlier this year. The judges made special mention of the efforts of Robin Baines in setting up HFG and in continuing its development. Robin Baines runs farm visits, talks and demonstrations for the likes of Scout groups, Women’s Institutes and Rotary clubs, helping to educate the public about food and farming.

Norton’s Dairy – The farm at Frettenham has been in the family since 1946 and is still a traditional mixed farm. The need to do something different was driven by falling milk prices. So the ladies of the family came up with a plan. Now they bottle and sell their own milk, cream and butter, through their own milk round and another independent milk round in north Norfolk. The aims are to keep everything as local as possible, and to keep family members working on the family farm. Earlier this year they opened their own farm shop in Frettenham, selling their own produce and other food from across the region. There is a small café area with milkshakes using the farm’s own milk, and cakes made with their own butter. Running their own milk round means the farm is very much a part of the community. There is also an annual farm open day, and school groups can visit the farm.

For the Eastern Daily Press report on the awards ceremony click here