Hampshire Fare

Shoppers at Hampshire Farmers' Market can tuck into a complimentary bacon, sausage or water buffalo burger breakfast bap freshly cooked by Hampshire farmers in Winchester on January 27th, with a celebration of Hampshire's meat for Farmhouse Breakfast Week.

Hampshire producers including Blackmoor Game (of Alresford), Bowtells Farm Shop (near Alton), Manor Farm (near Romsey), Greenfield Pork (of Andover), Broughton Water Buffalo (near Stockbridge) and Stark House Farm (on the Hants/Berks border) are taking part together with Lainston House and Slindon Bakeries to offer shoppers to taste for themselves how good meat reared and produced in Hampshire is. 'Celebrities' 'Beefy and Lamby' will be at the market to hand out children's quizzes and free breakfast vouchers, and children will love the Kidsrome farm where they can meet the cows, poultry, pony, donkey, rabbits, guinea pigs and dogs. There will be plenty of free recipes on hand, and other stall holders will be taking part with tastings and accompaniments for breakfast and brunch dishes. Hampshire Young Farmers will also be offering a 'wheelbarrow to car' carry service for heavy bags of shopping!

This special free promotion during Farmhouse Breakfast Week has been organised jointly by county food group Hampshire Fare and Hampshire Farmers' Markets, and funded by South East England Development Agency, with Beefy and Lamby's support from EBLEX (English Beef & Lamb Executive) to encourage more people to buy local meat, and in turn, support Hampshire's farmers. Says Sarah Read of Hampshire Farmers' Markets: "The farmers' market in Winchester offers a huge selection of fresh, locally reared, free range and organic meat to choose from, with minimum food miles. The producers are happy to offer advice about cuts of meat and how best to cook these. We hope this free tasting and fun event will inspire shoppers and encourage more people to try something local!"

The Great Farmhouse Breakfast Giveaway will be at Winchester farmers' market in Middlebrook Street and Middlebrook car park on the 27th January between 9am-2pm. For a free directory of where to buy locally reared meat and other produce from Hampshire, visit www.hampshirefare.co.uk and for details of all Hampshire farmers' markets in 2008 together with recipe ideas for cooking local produce, visit www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk