A Norfolk turkey farmer believes heightened consumer food awareness is driving a surge in lockdown demand – and he has enlisted a celebrity chef to help promote the benefits of shopping local.
Robert Garner, who runs Godwick Turkeys, based near Fakenham, has seen online orders for his free-range Norfolk Bronze and Black turkeys, crowns and breast rolls soar by 50pc this year during the first four weeks of taking orders for Christmas.
He said the rise in demand is partly due to the coronavirus pandemic making people more aware of the importance of supporting local businesses, including taking a greater interest in the provenance of their food.
“I think people are really starting to sit up and take notice of where their food, particularly their meat, comes from and how it is farmed and produced,” he said.
“Covid-19 has changed the way people shop and the food that they buy. When I talk to our new customers they want to go local, support British farming and have great-tasting and reasonably-produced food on their table this Christmas.
“Before the lockdown, I think people were becoming increasingly detached from farming, seeing only the supermarket, and their plate of food.
“I’m delight to say that has changed and this season we have seen consumers taking a real interest in the work of producers like us.”
READ MORE: EDP campaign – Let’s Shop Local and ‘bootstrap our own economy’Godwick Turkeys has been supplying families and butchers with Christmas turkeys for more than 50 years and the family-run firm has now expanded its home delivery service to cover the whole of the UK.
Customers can also order online and collect directly from the farm, which Mr Garner said gives them “a guarantee of traceability, environmental protection, food safety and hygiene and welfare standards”.
This year Mr Garner is working with TV chef Galton Blackiston, who owns and runs the Michelin-starred Morston Hall restaurant at Morston, near Blakeney, to raise awareness of the need to support local food businesses.
Mr Blackiston said: “I’ve been cooking turkeys from Godwick at Christmas for a number of years now and they have never disappointed.
“I am very lucky to work with some brilliant local producers and it would be great to see people support local food producers this Christmas.
“By opting for local produce like a Godwick turkey, you are not only benefiting a local farming business but you are also providing yourself and your family with a great-tasting bird reared to the highest standards.”
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