Farmland Produce
Food production: Like most agricultural land in NW Essex, arable crops which go for processing to human or animal feed or for biodiesel predominate. But a proportion of the land produces foodstuffs that could be directly sold to local consumers: apples and other orchard crops, organic chickens and eggs, sheep meat, beef and wild meat (pheasant, partridge, venison, rabbits, wood pigeons). For consideration of wood-fuel production see Oxlip Woods page.
Locally consumable produce
Type of produce |
Producer |
Size (ha) |
How sold |
Producer contact |
Sheep meat |
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Beef |
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| Table poultry |
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| Eggs |
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| Soft fruit |
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| Apples etc |
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| Wild game |
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This table can only be completed following contact with farmers |
There are substantial areas of orchards but many seem not to be in active use and some have been grubbed out.
What needs doing
Task |
Who could do it? |
Likely cost |
Comments |
| Identify ownership of farmlands |
Direct (postal contact) with farm addresses and/or members of the public with local knowledge |
Under £50 |
Costly if |
| Survey of farmlands for wildlife value |
Essex Wildlife Trust (local members) or Essex Field Club |
nil |
EECOS if funding available |
| Identify produce of each farm that is (or could be) marketed locally at the farrm gate or via local outlets |
Organic Countryside |
nil |
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| Discover which producers would like collective publicity for their produce |
Organic Countryside |
nil |
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| Publish "local food" leaflet for free distribution |
Walden Local Food and Saffron Walden Tourist Office |
£250 |
depends on print-run |
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