After three generations farming, Fordmore moves into the 21st century
After three generations farming at Fordmore, near Cullompton, Devon, an award-winning farm shop has now moved into the twenty first century by introducing an online shop.
The farm, purchased during the perils of WW2, was originally called Plymtree but now trading as Fordmore Farm Shop has faced the present challenges of the pandemic by embracing on-line meat sales to support the business.
The farm specialises in organic dairy and poultry products and boasts a herd of Longhorn cattle, bread for the table.
With the extended lockdown continuing since Christmas the Fordmore team have needed to be creative to find solutions to continue to provide their services to the community.
The pandemic restrictions had already forced many changes including car park collections, Friday night take-aways, but now they have developed their own online business to accept orders from the local community, with free delivery thrown in.
And if the scheme proves as successful as is hoped then they have an ambitious plan to roll out the service nationally.
Tom Harradine, Joint Owner of Fordmore with James Persey commented; “With lockdown restrictions potentially easing in the coming months we know that a high number of people will not feel comfortable with “normal life” resuming.
“We wanted to provide ways that will allow people to stay safe and still shop from us but from the comfort of their own homes.
“The pandemic has been a trying time for all small businesses and our community and we want to be able to do everything we can to allow people to still enjoy our produce, hence offering free delivery to the local community.
“We really hope that this new system will prove popular and be another way of helping get everyone through the ongoing restrictions.”
Fordmore Farm Shop is the diversification by third generation farmers at Fordmore after William and Mary Persey moved to Cullompton in 1942.
As their farm continued to grow over the years, they decided to open the farm shop, which recently won the South West Farm Shop of the Year 20/21 in the Prestige Awards
