19.02.03      
Double helping of good news for Cornish farmer

Cornish beef farmer Brian Trewin was recently served a double helping of good news.

First he received a helping hand to buy weighing and labelling scales and a freezer with a “fast track” award of nearly £400 from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Food and Drink Partnership.

Then he heard that – “for adding value to his produce” - he had won £100 as the south west regional runner-up in the Farming Business of the Year category of the NFU Farming Excellence Awards 2003.

“Together the scales and freezer cost nearly £1,000 and they are regularly used,” said Brian: “I can now accurately weigh and print labels directly on to our meat products instead of handwriting them while the freezer is fully stocked to store meat until the customer requires it.”

Brian and his wife Vivien have run Middle Tremollett Farm, Coads Green, near Launceston, for more than 30 years. Looking for more profitable ways to operate, five years ago they started selling direct to the public and to retirement homes, public houses and restaurants where they have built up a loyal clientele for their beef joints, mince, burgers, steaks and diced meats.

Two years ago they stopped keeping sheep and today they have a herd of around 120 pure South Devon and cross-Angus cattle.

“We describe ourselves as semi-organic as all the cattle are fed on home-produced grass and grain only,” explained Brian. “In addition we can offer complete traceability.”

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Food and Drink Partnership Scheme helps businesses involved in the food and drink industries in the Objective One area. It is funded by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and the Department of the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs and delivered through a partnership involving the Business Link service for Devon and Cornwall and Taste of the West.

The scheme, which provides business, technical, and development advice as well as capital and marketing grant aid, is open to food and drink processors, caterers, wholesalers, retailers and agricultural producers. Up to 50 per cent of the total cost of a project is available and all applicants must show a link to Cornish agricultural production. There is a fast track application process where the total project cost does not exceed £10,000 and a mainstream programme for projects up to £120,000 (maximum grant support level £60,000).

For more information contact Business Link on 0845 600 9966 or Taste of the West on 01579 349363.

Editor's notes:

For further press information please contact Ian Gent on 0845 600 9966 or 07771 631518 or Lucy Batchelor on 0845 600 9966.

European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) is one of the four funds that make up the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which is making £314m available to support the local economy between 2000 and 2006.

EAGGF aims to:

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388

jason@dclark.co.uk

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