Forget the Veg Box, Swillington Organic Farm’s Yorkshire Meatbox announced as 2014 Soil Association Organic Awards Winner

Yorkshire based Swillington Organic Farm has been selected as a winner of the prestigious 2014 Soil Association Organic Awards. Their Monthly Meatbox for Four has been selected the winner of the Best Box Scheme category ahead of a variety of meat and veg box schemes from across the UK

This year the awards included an online consumer vote, where the public were able to vote for their favourites in each category throughout Organic September ““ a month long celebration of all things organic, led by the Soil Association. The awards received over 11,000 public votes with Swillington Organic Farm, as the only Yorkshire Finalist in their category getting hundreds of mentions on social media as the Yorkshire public got behind them.

Swillington Farm’s Meatboxes were inspired by the popular organic veg box idea and are a unique way of connecting consumers with the farmer so they understand the story behind what they’re eating.
Previously known as the Organic Food Awards, the awards have been showcasing the best in organic for 28 years. Initial shortlisting for each category was undertaken by panel of well-respected and high profile judges including organic beauty brand founder and TV personality, Jo Wood; Liz Earle, ethical entrepreneur, writer, presenter & organic farmer; and Daily Telegraph writer, Xanthe Clay

This year the judges based their decisions not only the quality of the product, but the organic story behind it ““ such as how the business and product went the extra mile in animal welfare, protecting the environment and wildlife, promoting health and serving the community. Swillington Organic Farm, near Leeds have been farming organically for 15 years and it was that commitment animal welfare and quality that helped the farm stand out.

Ed Cartwright, who founded the meatbox scheme said “It’s a great achievement for our team. There’s a lot of hard work and dedication goes into producing our meat. From rearing the animals organically on the farm to expertly butchering and hand preparing the meat it’s a skilled process and our team put quality first and make sure everything is done right. In just 3 years our box scheme has gone from me starting it up and doing everything including driving the van and delivering to a handful of local customers to being voted the best box scheme in the UK. It’s a great achievement and the fact that it was voted by the public really shows the growing demand for honest, high welfare organic food which is fantastic.”

Swillington’s meat boxes are the ideal way to eat the right amount of ethical, high welfare and environmentally friendly meat direct from the farm. As well as delivering meat boxes across the UK the farm host regular ‘Meat Up’ events. These allow interested foodies to visit the farm, see the animals, experience a butchery demonstration and taste a seasonal menu crafted by local chefs.

Their next event will be Turkey themed to ‘meet the Christmas dinner’ on Saturday 25th October and their meatboxes are available to order online at www.swillingtonorganicfarm.co.uk