OF&G licensee, John Hutchings, will be up to his armpits in celebrities right about now.
That’s because the hugely popular Chris Evans Breakfast Show, on BBC Radio 2, is going to be broadcast live from one of his fields, on the coast near Looe, Cornwall, tomorrow morning.
As of now Mr Evans and his colleagues (including the newsreading legend Moira Stuart) are setting up along with 100 lucky campers and pop band Scouting for Girls.
Other high profile guests expected tomorrow include Richard and Judy and athletics star Kriss Akabusi.
Chris Evans’ aptly named Show in a Field can be heard from 7am to 9.30am tomorrow and you’ll even be able to see live video on the website.
We finally have the official, ready-to-use version of the new EU organic logo!
The EU organic logo
We’ve been waiting a while and many of our licensees have been on tenterhooks for this, because for new products it needs to be in use by July and that doesn’t leave a lot of lead time.
This morning the EU website has been updated with downloadable versions of the logo and a style guide for its use and you can grab everything you need from here: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/eu-policy/logo_en
We were promised we’d have this by the end of this month so, by a hair’s breadth, they have delivered!
It’s still going to mean something of a rush for some operators to get labels designed, approved, printed, distributed, etc. But at least now they can move forward.
Our processing team are currently digesting the detail of the usage guidelines so that they can help with any queries that arise. There are bound to be some.
We also learn today that our identifier code (originally ‘Organic Certification UK2′, then ‘GB Organic Certification 2′) has now been changed again to ‘GB-ORG-02′. Just like that. No more, no less. New logos will be produced shortly for licensee use to update their own materials.
It’s been a long road, but we’re getting there!
Last night was a big one for licensee, Jess Vaughan, who featured prominently in BBC2′s Hairy Bikers’ Twelve Days of Christmas.
Jess (left) and her friend sing to the nation!
The well-known two wheeled cooks whipped up what they described as one of their best ever dishes on a makeshift kitchen in one of Jess’s Gloucestershire fields.
And why were they there? “It’s the only place to go for cream. It’s the best there is, man.” A ringing endorsement indeed!
The pair went on to praise the quality of the cream from Jess’s Ladies numerous times and credited it with making their Christmassy Panacotta the special dish they profess it to be.
Jess explains what makes her milk and cream so good and gets to try out the finished food – not to mention indulging in a spot of festive singing… Very brave on national telly, but nicely done!
Jess told us the rather large film crew spent a whole day on the farm and that she loved the experience.
You can take a look for yourself on the BBC iPlayer (until they remove it). Jess’s part starts at 39’58″, if you don’t want to watch all of it…
Some industry news we’ve received that’s worth sharing:
Community Foods appoints new MD and Commercial Director
Community Foods Ltd, experts in sourcing dried fruit, nuts and seeds as well as leading organic specialist has appointed Martin Rome as Managing Director from 1st January 2010 to succeed Bill Henry who remains on the board.
Martin joined Community Foods from Whitworths in April. Martin brings over 20 years experience
in dried fruit, nuts and seeds having started his career with S&W Berisford before moving to Voicevale and latterly Whitworths for 8 years where he held the position of Purchasing Director.
Martin’s external interests include his position as chairman of FRUCOM (a European federation, representing a wide range of food products) and board member of CENTA (Combined Edible Nuts Trade Association). Martin has previously also chaired the NDFTA (British Dried Fruit Trades Association).
David Lewis is promoted to Commercial Director overseeing all of Community’s retail activities. David has been with Community for 9 years and has been responsible for establishing Community’s leading Organic Brand, Crazy Jack Organic in the home bake sector.
Obviously, the headline refers to a ‘pee bale’. What else?
Staff at the National Trust Wimpole Estate attracted quite some attention recently with the story of their open-air, non-flushing, recyclable, compostable, loo-with-a-view.
In an enlightened move, the gardeners at the stunning Wimpole Hall, in Royston, Cambridgeshire, (the associated Wimpole Home Farm is converting to organic with OF&G) have installed their bales against a spare wall and the men use it in preference to the more traditional water closet.
This has a number of benefits, not least saving many unnecessary toilet flushes and it gives a marvellous natural boost to the compost that it is eventually added to. I imagine it also removes the need for a walk to wherever the toilets are, so you could say it also results in saved man-hours.
That’s not a sexist turn of phrase, by the way; bale relief is limited to the men because apparently their urine is less acidic (plus other fairly obvious practical reasons, one would imagine).
They certainly got plenty of attention for their new habit, with not only a lighthearted piece by the local BBC TV news, but an interview on Radio Four’s Today programme, no less. Links to both are here.
Though it crossed my mind, it’s far from clear that the ladies would stand for a similar arrangement being enacted here at the Old Estate Yard…
Some very uplifting news comes to us today from licensee, Jones Organic, makers of organic pasties and pies.
Jones Organic - Organic Steak & Vegetable Pastie
Business is good and the firm has now signed a lease to take on new premises which allows it to double its baking and refrigeration capacity.
While the business is proudly based in Bridgend, South Wales, increased demand from retailers in London and the south east has created the conditions for the bakery to ramp up its activities.
You can read all about the new move in the the words of Jones Organic themselves here: Jones Organic Press Release 21.10.09 [Adobe PDF file, 48k].
As well as supplying delis and organic stores around the country, the firm runs a very tempting mail order service which can be accessed through the website.
There’s some fascinating history to the company and its founder, Mike Sweetman, on there as well.
We wish everyone at Jones Organic every success with their expansion.
organic food
