Meet our Members – The Farmer’s Cart

*The Farmer’s Cart, Towthorpe Grange near York*

*Where it all started!*
The Farmer’s Cart was started back in 2002 by the Sykes family. 12 years on Edward Sykes and his parents Margaret and Geoff are still at the heart of the business although they now employ over 70 staff across the business.
What started as a simple shack on the family farm has now developed a destination with families from far and wide flocking to visit the Piglets adventure farm, café and of course the farm shop.

*Creating an experience!*
Hannah Wade Marketing Manager at The Farmer’s Cart says “Our aim is to make a visit to The Farmer’s Cart not just a shopping trip but a field to fork experience for the whole family”
And they’re doing a pretty good job! From the moment you enter the gates at The Farmer’s Cart there’s no mistaking where you are as you are greeted by hens, piglets and lambs alongside the driveway leading to the car park.
The café which uses all local and Farmer’s Cart produce including bacon and sausages made on site using meat from their own pigs and all these products and more are available to buy in the shop itself.

*Keeping it local!*
Their ethos of educating and telling a food story to their customers is exactly why they chose to join deliciouslyorkshire all the way back in 2003.
Owner Edward Sykes says “It has always been our mission to give people a better understanding of where their food comes from and being members of deliciouslyorkshire has helped us do that. By having the deliciouslyorkshire logo in our window we’re showing our customers that we are committed to quality local Yorkshire produce and that’s exactly what our customers will find on our shelves”

*The butcher, the baker and!*
Down on the farm you’ll find The Farmer’s Cart butchery and bakery production units. They employ 2 full time butchers who spend their week preparing the finest cuts of meat to go on sale in the farm shop.
It’s also the place where The Farmer’s Cart sausages are made including their chipolatas which were shortlisted for a deliciouslyorkshire award in 2013.
The bakery section of The Farmer’s Cart is stacked full of delicious looking treats, the majority of which are baked daily on the farm. Their plan for the future is to make even more of the bakery produce including cakes and tray bakes on site
Marketing Manager Hannah says “People come from miles around to buy a bag of our homemade brownies, they’re just so delicious”

*The best of Yorkshire!*
The Farmer’s Cart stocks what is arguably one of the best selections of Yorkshire food and drink brands in the region.
Edward says: “There are so many great products being made in Yorkshire so when it comes to stocking the shop, it’s easy. We have everything from world renowned brands like Yorkshire Tea to local cottage industries making chutneys and preserves on a small scale. It’s a great thing to be able to support so many local businesses, so as long as we like the products and our customers like them too, we’re happy.”
In particular the extensive condiments section of The Farmer’s Cart is packed full of exciting flavours and combinations from producers of varying sizes, many of which are fellow deliciouslyorkshire members.
Edward says: “Many of the producers we work with are members of deliciouslyorkshire too and it’s always great to know that they have made the same commitment to local food as us.”