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Cammas Hall Farm named pick of the crop in Pick Your Own of the Year category at Farm Retail Awards




Cammas Hall Farm has been named Pick Your Own (PYO) of the Year in a national awards ceremony celebrating the pick of the crop in the farm retail industry.

The ceremony, as part of the Farm Retail Association’s (FRA) annual Stronger Together event at Sandy Park, Exeter, Devon, was hosted by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Cammas Hall, at Needham Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, was one of eight category winners in the awards organised by the FRA. The judges noted: “A wide range of cropping is grown, all the favourites including pumpkins, cherries and sunflowers. Visitors are greeted by enthusiastic staff throughout the PYO experience."

Cammas Hall Farm owner Jonathan Lukies, centre, receives the award for PYO of the Year from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, right, at the Farm Retail Awards 2023
Cammas Hall Farm owner Jonathan Lukies, centre, receives the award for PYO of the Year from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, right, at the Farm Retail Awards 2023

Cammas Hall’s owner Jonathan Lukies said: “I am overjoyed to receive the FRA award for the best Pick Your Own farm in the UK for a second time. It is recognition of a huge amount of hard work and dedication by the incredible team here at Cammas Hall. I would like to say thank you to all of them, to all our loyal customers and to the FRA."

Cammas Hall is now in its 57th year of offering PYO to the public. Jonathan said: "We continue to stick firmly to our ethos of supplying the highest quality local produce whilst providing an enjoyable friendly experience for all who visit.

"The last few years have brought additional challenges and we’re sure there are more around the corner, but we look forward to taking them on with the continued support of our customers.”

Cammas Hall Farm's owner Jonathan Lukies (62941620)
Cammas Hall Farm's owner Jonathan Lukies (62941620)

Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall, who hosted the River Cottage series on Channel 4 and is also a journalist, food writer and campaigner on food and environmental issues, said that it had been "a privilege" to present this year’s FRA Awards.

"I’m a huge supporter of farm shops and farmers’ markets as they are rooted in the food and farming of local communities, so they can offer the best seasonal produce that comes from the surrounding landscape," he said.

"It’s great to celebrate these businesses, often family-run, who are working so hard to supply high-quality local food to communities across the country. I am so impressed by the standards of the entries and the winners should be especially proud of their achievement.”

The awards ceremony is part of the FRA's annual three-day conference which includes farm shop tours, an AGM, guest speakers and topical workshops.

Strawberry fool? Cammas Hall Farm's 2023 season starts on Saturday April 1
Strawberry fool? Cammas Hall Farm's 2023 season starts on Saturday April 1

The Farm Retail Awards are the only ones to be judged by fellow farm retailers and celebrate the best farm shops, farm cafés and restaurants, farmers’ markets and trade suppliers in the country.

The PYO season at Cammas Hall typically starts in the final week of May, with strawberries, and finishes in October with pumpkins and squash. During the five-month picking season they also grow raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, gooseberries, blueberries, sweetcorn, onions and sunflowers.

The farm will open for the 2023 season on Saturday April 1, kicking off with an Alice in Wonderland trail for Easter. Visit cammashall.co.uk/events for more details.



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