Britain’s top PYO farms shortlisted for national awards
18th August 2023
Some of the UK’s best pick your own farms have been shortlisted for the national Farm Retail Awards.
The Pumpkin House at Farmer Copleys in West Yorkshire.
Two of this year’s award hopefuls hail from Yorkshire and one from Worcestershire. Last year’s trophy went to Cammas Hall in Bishop’s Stortford, Essex.
The category has been judged earlier than others in the awards to allow judging to take place at the height of the PYO season.
Those shortlisted for the PYO category will now go through to the awards in March 2024.
They include:
Bells Farm Shop, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire:
Bells Farm is a third-generation family run Pick Your Own, Farm Shop, Butchery and Cafe with 40 acres of fruit and vegetables in Worcestershire. Combining traditional growing with new ideas, they aim to bring new customers to enjoy the taste and fun of pick your own and with over 200 varieties of fruit and vegetables there is something for everyone all year round.
The growing team at Bells Farm Shop.
Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire:
Farmer Copleys has a family-run farm shop, Moo Café, function space and events centre. The Copley family has been farming for over 140 years with the aim of showcasing British agriculture to the community whilst also getting people engaged with the countryside and helping people learn where their food comes from and how it is produced. Visitors are encouraged to get involved in learning about food by educating through fun and offering a unique experience of interacting with homegrown local produce.
Horsforth Pick Your Own, Leeds, West Yorkshire:
Rory Kemp established Horsforth Pick Your Own almost 40 years ago in traditional small oak tree lined pasture fields, overlooking Leeds and Bradford. Now joined by his son Joe, the PYO has evolved and they grow both table top (7.75km) and in the ground strawberries (3 acres) along with raspberries (2.5 acres). For Halloween pumpkins were added in 2018 with pumpkin numbers increasing year on year to currently 70,000. For the festive season, Yorkshire grown Christmas trees are sold along with free-range bronze turkeys reared on the farm from poults, and then hand plucked, hung and dressed.
Horsforth pick your own in West Yorkshire.
Chairman of the Farm Retail Association, Emma Mosey said: “The standard of entries has been incredible. We look forward to seeing entrants from all remaining categories now, and celebrating the very best in the business at our awards ceremony next March. Good luck to all of our finalists!”
The remaining categories are now open and other finalists will be announced at the end of the year. These include:
- Large Farm Shop of the Year
- Small Farm Shop of the Year
- Farm Cafe/Restaurant of the Year
- Farm Shop Butchery of the Year
- Rising Star Award
- Farmers Market of the Year
- Associate Member of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Finalists will be showcased at an Awards Gala Dinner held in March on a date and venue to be announced.
All members of the Farm Retail Association are eligible to enter the awards free of charge.
