Speciality-Food-June-2025

16 @specialityfood Alanna Mckeever LONG MEADOW CIDER PGI-accredited County Armargh Bramley apple juice runs through the heart and soul of Long Meadow Cider – a proudly family-run destination for apple lovers seeking a true taste of the region from far and wide. The business’s story begins two generations ago, with Alanna’s grandfather, who planted established apple trees and travelled to Dublin to sell the fruit. Just over a decade ago, with three generations of the family living on the farm, the team diversified into cider-making, and the brand’s range now covers juices and a unique 0.05% cider alongside its hugely popular range. All apples used in production are hand-picked on the farm, and this tree-to-bottle philosophy has proven popular with locals and overseas visitors alike; indeed, the farm has come to play host to special occasions – birthdays, weddings and more – alongside its tours and tastings. A deliciously authentic taste of Northern Ireland, with family running through its core. longmeadowcider.com NORTHERN IRELAND Patrick Black CLANDEBOYE ESTATE YOGHURT Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt is a product truly rooted to its land. Founded by Lady Dufferin, owner of the Clandeboye Estate, in 2018 as a way to add value to the milk produced by her Friesian and Jersey cows, the brand has gained followers across Northern Ireland as a result of its unparalleled quality and dedication to keeping things simple. The range is delicious yet carefully curated. A Greek yoghurt-inspired method of straining the creamy milk, which was at that time totally unique to the region, helped put Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt on the map – and its audience keeps growing, drawn to its stunning quality as well as its beautiful provenance. Sustainable farming and production models have been employed at the business too, meaning that customers can be confident that not only is the yoghurt they’re eating providing them with an honest taste of County Down, but that it’s benefiting the environment too. clandeboyeyoghurt.com Michelle Wilson CRAWFORD’S ROCK SEAWEED A 300-year-old family tie to the bay from which it sources its produce, and a passion for celebrating and supporting the environment, runs through this business’s range of seaweed and storecupboard staples. For three centuries, Michelle Wilson’s family has sustainably harvested seaweed from its local waters – resolutely sticking to wild seaweed, never cultivated, in a passionate effort to retain the quality of their range as well as the health of the region’s ecology and wildlife. Foodies keen to know more are welcomed to the bay, where they will be invited to bathe in the water and cook the seaweed alongside locally-caught fish and shellfish for a truly authentic taste of the Kingdom of Mourne. crawfordsrockseaweed.co.uk MIDLANDS Tori and Ben Stanley TORI & BEN’S Selling optimum produce from the farm direct to consumers, Tori & Ben’s mission is simple but noble: to promote a better way of eating, shopping and living, and giving local consumers an opportunity to do just that. Coming from a farming background, Ben is passionate about celebrating Longhorn cattle – not only because of their historical connection to the region, but because of the exceptional quality of their meat. Of parallel importance to the team is the environment, with responsible farming a key tenet of the business’s mission. This connection to the local land rings true throughout the business; visitors are welcome to walk around the farm and get a taste for the grass roots of the produce they then enjoy in-store. Feeding local customers excellent produce fromwithin a small radius has proven to be a huge success, but Tori & Ben’s is staying resolutely small-scale to better support the local region’s food sector. toriandbensfarm.com Paula Wood HOME FARM PRODUCE A love of honest food is at the heart of Home Farm Produce, with local meat reared with love and generations of expertise wholesomely served at its on- site farm shop and cafe. A nose-to-tail and chemical-free, grass-fed philosophy runs through the business, where simplicity rules; doing things properly – whether that be by farming responsibly, taking care of locals, and cooking up a storm for the deli counter and cafe – is as important to Paula as her appreciation for excellent tasting food. Alongside meat reared on the farm, other staples such as vegetables, eggs and bread are sold – offering customers the opportunity to support the local food sector, all from one place. Locals are treated like family here, with the site a welcome hub for the local community who appreciate the grass roots nature of this business which truly champions honest, home-grown Midlands food . homefarmproduce.co.uk