Written by Lisa Proffitt | 18th October 2022
Farm shops have always been important in rural communities, supporting local farmers and offering fresher, better-quality produce while reducing food miles. With more to choose from than ever, read on for our pick of some of the best farm shops across the counties of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire:
Barnowl Farm Shop, Cloisters Farm, Evenley
Starting as an honesty box hut at the farm gate, this family run farm shop now sells from a purpose built barn. The Barnowl Jersey herd is milked on site and the farm shop sells unpasteurised and pasteurised milk, cream, ice-cream and cheese and the butcher's counter offers meat, sausages and burgers. Low food miles are a priority and all fruit, veg and bakery goods are sourced as locally as possible from small businesses including Whittlebury Bakery and Butler’s Pie Company in Brackley.
Saxby’s Cider Farm Shop, Farndish, Wellingborough
Say the word Saxby’s to most Northamptonians and they’ll think of pork pies. Family business Saxby’s used to produce the Rolls Royce of them and Roger Moore is rumoured to have eaten them on set during filming of James Bond movies. The family have now diversified into craft ciders made from apples grown in their orchard. They create multiple varieties and flavours including Original Cider, Rhubarb, Plum and Mulled Cider.
White’s Nurseries Farm Shop, Earls Barton
White’s started as a small shop in Earls Barton in the 1940s and this family run business has been thriving ever since. You’ll find locally grown and homemade produce in abundance, including fresh milk and dairy products, a huge range of cheese from Folwer’s of Earlswood, local free range eggs, fresh juices and artisan drinks, honeys and preserves, cakes and breads as well as freshly prepared ready meals. A box delivery service is available within a 10-mile radius of Earls Barton.
Beckworth Emporium, Mears Ashby
Local suppliers provide a wide range of fresh food and pantry staples including meat and fish, ready meals by COOK, bread, dairy products and real ales from Gun Dog Ales in the Northants village of Woodford Halse. There’s also an extensive deli counter and a restaurant.
Bell Plantation, Towcester
Locally produced food including meats, locally baked breads and cakes, Northamptonshire dairy products, pastas and sauces and fresh and frozen ready meals by COOK make this a great destination for foodies. Nearby Towcester Mill Brewery provide locally brewed beer and you can even buy your own chickens at the poultry centre to guarantee a supply of free range eggs.
Smiths, Chapel Brampton
Smiths is a family-run business with a strong emphasis on sustainability and local produce. The well-stocked farm shop sells seasonal, home grown veg, artisan breads from local bakery The Homemade Bread Company and fresh meats from Sauls of Spratton who also supply sausage rolls, pork pies, pasties and pâtés.
Boycott Farm Shop, Stowe
All staples are available at Boycott Farm. Fresh fruit and veg, homemade jams, chutneys, pies, sausage rolls, cakes and a vast array of delicious deli items…the list goes on. There is also a wide selection of produce from local suppliers, including honey, bread and beers from local breweries. The farm has an Aberdeen Angus herd and along with other locally sourced meat their butchery offers free range meat with the butcher on hand for cooking and prep advice.
King’s Farm Shop, Wendover
King’s specialise in butchery and there are 12 flavours of sausages to choose from, including their signature “Wendover Royal”, made from a secret recipe. Vegetarians can choose from an array of cheeses and homemade quiches, plus seasonal fruit, veg and condiments, all sourced from surrounding farms. Choose a meat or a veg box or build your own and enjoy free delivery if you live within five miles of Wendover.
Udderly Fresh, Winslow
The Barker family have been producing milk for over 35 years, and the farm currently has a herd of Friesians and Norwegian Reds. Since 2016 their unpasteurised milk has been dispensed directly to customers from an on-farm vending machine and in 2018 they expanded to a farm shop selling fresh local produce. Expect plenty of local meats, baked goods and wine, as well as store cupboard essentials, jams and chutneys.
Laceys Family Farm, High Wycombe
Nestled in the heart of the Chilterns in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the farm’s pedigree herd of 120 Guernsey cows live an enviable life and produce wonderfully creamy milk as a result. Eggs and meat are also stocked in the farm shop plus home-made cheeses and cakes, freshly-made artisan bread, coffee and boxes of seasonal fruit and veg.
Orchard View Farm Shop, Aylesbury
In 2019 this farm shop won the intriguing accolade of Most Innovative Sausage. They offer a wide selection of local produce, including top quality meat from the butchery, and plenty of home-cooked food from the café.
Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands
The Farm Shop at Frosts has a huge meat counter sourced from a variety of local farmers, plus a vast array of local beer and wine, fresh fruit and veg and fresh bread from Woods bakery.
Pecks Farm Shop, Leighton Buzzard
This award-winning farm shop between Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes sells food from the family’s 150-acre farm. Great believers in supporting the local community, 90% of the products Pecks stock are produced locally. So whether it’s sausages from Eaton Bray, beer from Leighton Buzzard, or Granola from High Wycombe, you’ll be doing your bit to support local businesses.
If you love a farm shop and didn’t see your favourite here, please do let us know. And if you’re thinking of making a move to pastures new our Michael Graham team would love to help. Call your local office or book a free valuation now.