National Trust Award for Supermarket

Booths supermarket has been awarded the ‘National Trust Fine Farm Produce Award’ for traditional beef.

Nationally recognised as an industry leader for its support of regional producers, Booths has been working with National Trust tenant farmers in Cumbria for the past three years to enable its customers to enjoy traditional breed dry-aged beef.

Neil Johnson, Regional Farm & Countryside Adviser for the National Trust said:

“We are particularly keen to encourage more traditional cattle in the uplands and we are confident that Booths’ customers will appreciate the quality of this award winning beef.”

Rob Macklin, The National Trust’s Head of Agriculture added: “The National Trust Fine Farm Produce Awards place a special emphasis on celebrating the best taste, quality and production of food from National Trust farms.  To gain the award, products much meet National Trust environment standards and all livestock, farms must be certified organic or Freedom Food (RSPCA) assured.  Traditional breeds of beef cattle have to be born and reared on National Trust farms to be included in the scheme. Finally all the products must pass strict taste tests where they must match or exceed quality alternatives.  Over 50 products have received the awards since 2006 but only the best make the grade.”

The Nibthwaite Farm Herd

National Trust tenant farmers in Cumbria who are part of the scheme, include John and Maxine Atkinson from Nibthwaite Grange Farm, near Coniston. The Atkinson family has farmed Nibthwaite Grange for six generations and has lived in the surrounding area since records began. 

The 140 hectare farm is in the Lake District Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme. They have 30 Suckler Cows, mostly Blue Greys and Galloways, which are also used for conservation work in the surrounding woodlands for Natural England and the National Trust.

John Atkinson says:

“We believe in producing food as naturally as possible and working with the environment as much as we can.  We use traditional breeds that mature for longer and provide better tasting beef.”

Simon Wood & the Cauesway Farm Herd

Booths’ Traditional Beef from National Trust Farms is also being reared by Raymond Richardson from Burnt House Farm at Wasdale, Duncan Shuttleworth from Ghyll Farm at Nether Wasdale, Martin Fishwick from Bank House Farm at Silverdale, Frank Park from Bannerigg Farm at Windermere and Simon Wood from Causeway Farm near Windermere.

The beef is slower matured for up to 30 months to provide premium cuts such as top side, Sirloin and fillet, compared with standard beef which is only 20 to 24 months old. 

The hind quarters of traditional breed cattle such as Aberdeen Angus, Galloway, Shorthorn, Highland and Hereford are hung on the bone for 15 days to dry age the meat.  The beef is then de-boned and further matured for an extra seven days in a controlled environment to guarantee fullness of flavour.  This process gives the beef a completely unique and exquisite taste.

Nigel Cokell, Fresh Meat Buyer for Booths, says:

“Booths and the National Trust have both invested in the product, helping to fund equipment for farmers, water troughs, weighing scales and modifications to farm buildings.

“Our National Trust tenant farmers care greatly about the environment and the countryside they farm and have all met or exceeded the National Trust environmental standards for farms.”

The new Booths’ National Trust beef is available on the fresh meat counters at Booths stores in Windermere, Ulverston and Lytham Haven Road, Keswick, Kirkby Lonsdale and Ilkley.

Customers should look out for the National Trust and Freedom Food logos.

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