Almost but not quite – no Big Apple 2020 for Much Marcle

The apples are coming in, the presses are at work, and it’s almost that time when the Big Apple has welcomed visitors to the Marcle Ridge for the past thirty years. But, sadly, not in 2020. The event, which was scheduled for 10^th and 11^th October, has been cancelled. The community organisation behind the Big Apple had come up with a programme and a delivery plan designed to keep the event within COVID-19 secure guidelines, but the latest changes proved a step too far. “We’ve been outrun by the virus”, said spokesman Jackie Denman. “We’d like to thank the Public Health team at Herefordshire Council for their advice and support – they really tried to help us make it happen. In the end, the decision to cancel was our own. The timing just wasn’t right.”

Messages of support followed the announcement late last week. “Everyone agreed that we had made the right decision, but they also took the trouble to tell us that we would be much missed.”

This annual opportunity to enjoy the orchards, to see, hear and smell cider being made and to taste many different varieties of apples, local ciders, perries and apple juices has become an established part of the calendar for many people. Apple growers and cider makers depend heavily on events for sales of their produce, and almost all had already been cancelled. “We tried so hard to keep the Big Apple going, especially because we were almost the only apple event that was still in this year’s calendar. We’ve put a special area on our website at https://www.bigapple.org.uk/harvestime2020/, with information about the producers that would have been there, and some ways to get hold of their produce.” Many familiar Big Apple venues are there, including Gregg’s Pit, Woodredding, Lyne Down, Pope’s Perry, Westons, Dragon Orchard and Jus Apple Juice.

A Poem from Sara-Jane Arbury

The Big Apple has started to plan its events for 2021, including Blossomtime on 2^nd/3^rd May and Harvestime on 9^th/10^th October.

September 19, 2020

Discover even more about Cider

Thirty UK cider and perry makers have launched a new campaign to encourage the British public to explore the world of cider. Local cider makers taking part include Once Upon a Tree, Tom Oliver, Weston’s, Little Pomona, Newton Court, Pearson’s, Butford Organics and Ross on Wye Cider and Perry.

The cider makers are uniting around three common themes: diversity – of both style and occasion, community – whether it’s cider’s rich heritage or orchards for the people, and sustainability – cider’s impeccably green credentials.

Over the next months, you are being invited to Discover Cider, with a chance to win mixed cases of cider by sharing your own cider stories.

There will be opportunities to visit producers and to meet the makers via a programme of events and tastings, virtual and otherwise, including the Cider Critic whose “virtual” tastings of products from a range of cider makers is available on the website.

There are links to local cider makers’ websites where you can order cider for delivery and discover even more about each producer.

Simon Day, production manager for Once Upon A Tree ciders says, “I have seen the need for a co-operative approach to cider marketing for a number of years, however several attempts to get something working have stalled for one reason or another, but mainly because there are just too few hours in the day.”

“Lockdown has provided the urgency among cider producers to come together to advance some form of co-operative marketing group, and the time to make things happen. Gabe Cook (renowned industry expert aka the Ciderologist) steered a growing number of progressive producers to come together and discuss the needs of cider makers generally, and in these challenging times of Coronavirus specifically.”

“Some cider makers have seen sales reduce by 80% over lockdown, as their route to market was blocked (pubs, restaurants and events) and the recovery, although happening, is slow and sales are still significantly lower than normal. We have seen redundancies and closures in the industry, with the smaller scale producer hardest hit. Something had to happen to help raise cider’s profile, to protect jobs, and to help protect our dwindling orchard landscape.”

“By working together, and with Gabe Cook at the helm, the hope is that we are able to amplify our key messages that we all share as producers: To introduce our ciders to new consumers and show off the variety of cider that is available; highlight our environmentally sustainable credentials and share our cider stories.”

“Early results are encouraging, with a number of online events and conversations happening and will continue to build over the remaining 9 weeks of the campaign. Our hope is this will lead to increasing demand with existing retailers and introducing exciting cider ranges to brand new stockists, particularly outside our usual “cider bubble”.

“I believe there will be a lasting legacy to our current activity, and #DiscoverCider will continue as a hashtag and website for some years to come, and most excitingly this will open the door to new collaborative approaches to help all British cidermakers in the future.”

You can find out more at www.discovercider.com and via its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Do help an important local industry if you can!

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020

Local Food Updates – Thursday 3rd September plus Thanks

Please continue to support our local food producers and retailers, and “Shop Safe Shop Ledbury”.

We have updated our Local Food Information Page on our website– click here to access the page

Ledbury Country Market – is re-opening fully at the Burgage Hall on Fridays from Friday 18^th September initially between 10am and Noon. Entrance from Church Lane – one way system for social distancing. Please wear face-masks. A full range of local food products, Chinese delicacies and plants and flowers will be available.

Their order and collect service is continuing – you can register for this service (order by Tuesday evening – collect on Friday AM from the Burgage Hall, Church Lane) at www.ledburycountrymarket.co.uk or phone 01684 540595 – send order forms to orders@ledburycountrymarket.co.uk or phone orders to 01684 540595

Food Deliveries – details of those who continue to provide delivery services have been updated.

Local restaurants, pubs and cafés – Thanks for supporting those that are now open. Trumpet Team Room reopened on 1^st August now run by Annie Badham and the Market House in Ledbury is now open again.

Please wear a face mask in shops to protect all those who work hard to serve us – “Shop Safe Shop Ledbury”…

…and thanks to all those who contributed to Janie Clarenne’s recent appeal via Justgiving to help her take her husband Pascal of Chez Pascal on a last visit to France – the target sum of £5,000 has now been exceeded.

August 19, 2020

Would you like to help Pascal and Janie Clarenne (Chez Pascal)?

Many of you will have enjoyed Pascal’s special pastries at Chez Pascal – Ledbury’s “little bit of France” lately in New Street.

Janie and Pascal had to close Chez Pascal permanently following Pascal’s diagnosis with cancer earlier this year.

Janie has launched a fund to help Pascal to visit France one last time as follows:

“Pascal has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and is battling his illness with great courage. It has been a difficult year with the loss of our business and Pascal’s declining health. My wish is to take Pascal to France when he is feeling stronger. He will need additional medical insurance as he is on oxygen 24/7. If anyone would like to make a donation to this, please donate to help – it would be gratefully received. I will keep you all updated on Pascal’s progress. Janie x”

You can contribute at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/janie-clarenne

Thanks

June 11, 2020

Ledbury Food Group – Notice of Annual General Meeting 2019/20

We are required by the constitution to do as follows – “The Annual General Meeting shall be held every May, or within the following three months for the following purposes:

a) Election of i) Chairperson ii) Secretary iii) Treasurer iv) Member(s) of the Committee

b) Presentation of accounts

c) Appointment of auditor

The Secretary will notify all members of the date of the meeting not less than 14 days before the AGM”

In the current circumstances it is not possible to hold a physical meeting, and not likely to be so within the time required for the AGM. The committee have therefore agreed that we should hold a “virtual” event via the group’s website and email.

To meet the needs of this we have prepared.

A report by the acting chairman of the group’s activities in the year to 31 March 2020. Click to access this.
The annual accounts of the Group for the year to 31 March 2020. Click to access this. It is proposed that Helen Lawson-Smith should continue to be our appointed examiner and that the 2019/20 account will be reviewed by her when circumstances allow.

The following committee members have confirmed that they are willing to continue to serve for the year 2020/21

Griff Holliday
David McCauley
Jackie Denman
Nina Shields
Caroline Handley
Nick Morris
John Davenport

The following officers have confirmed that they are willing to continue in these roles

Griff Holliday – Secretary
David McCauley – Treasurer

It is proposed that these persons listed above should continue in role for the next year.

Please note:

The office of Chairman of the group is currently vacant
There is opportunity for up to 3 more persons to become committee members – if you are interested please contact the group’s secretary.

If any registered members have any concerns about these proposals please contact us before 30^th June. Otherwise these proposals will be deemed effective from that date.

We will be happy to receive any questions and comments from both registered members and supporters within this period or at any other time.

Contact us at ask@ledburyfoodgroup.org or phone 01531 633637

Griff Holliday

Secretary, Ledbury Food Group

8^th June 2020

May 13, 2020May 23, 2020

Ledbury Country Market – now accepting orders!

The Ledbury Country Market has announced that from this week (w/c Monday 11th May) it is accepting orders for collection on Friday mornings in Ledbury.

The Market is offering the following products:

cakes and other baked goods
savoury goods
charcuterie
eggs
honey
apple juice
jellies – marmalades – jams – chutneys
plants and herbs
vegetables

They hope to provide flowers soon.

To register your interest in this new service and pick up an order form visit www.ledburycountrymarket.co.uk or find out more at 01684 540595.

Orders will need to be placed by email to orders@ledburycountymarket.co.uk by Tuesday evening. They will be available for collection on the coming Friday at St Katherine’s Hall, Ledbury between 10.30 and noon. Please pay by card on collection of your order.

For those living locally who must isolate, delivery of orders may be possible – please check.

Ledbury Country Market is part of the nationwide organisation, Country Markets Limited, and also a member of the Herefordshire Country Markets Society Limited.

For other information please visit the Local Food Information page >>

April 24, 2020

Sorry, the 2020 Ledbury Celebration is cancelled

We have been forced to cancel this year’s Ledbury Celebration – Ledbury’s annual food festival featuring local food and drink, poetry, music and heritage – due to be held on Sunday 12 July 2020.

As a voluntary organisation with no financial reserves and dependent on the generosity of a number of sponsors, we have to do this before we start incurring expenditure and effort on an event which sadly now looks very unlikely to be allowed to happen in July.

We recognise the value this popular event provides to our local food and drink producers in presenting their special products to a wider community, and are very sorry that we cannot provide support via this event.

Our grateful thanks go to our many partners and sponsors who confirmed their support for the 2020 event. We hope to be back with a Ledbury Celebration in 2021!

Given the current difficult circumstances, we will continue to publicise the availability of locally produced and retailed produce in Ledbury and district in the Blog section of our website. Please let us know if you have information on this that others might appreciate. You can contact us at ask@ledburyfoodgroup.org.

Please also support our local Ledbury Food Bank who continue to do a sterling job with valued help from some local producers – details at www.ledburyfoodbank.org.

…and if you or someone you know is interested in helping as a worker with this year’s fruit harvest, some local opportunities are listed at www.britishsummerfruits.co.uk/jobs.

Keep safe!