Langley Chase Organic Farm Wins Second National Organic Food Award

18 October 2002: Organic lamb from Langley Chase Organic Farm, Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire, has won joint third place in the in the lamb category of the prestigious National Organic Food Awards run by The Soil Association, it was announced today.

The farm, run by Mrs Jane Kallaway, specialises in the production of organic rare breed Manx Loghtan lamb* selling both locally and via its website - www.langleychase.co.uk - to customers around the UK. The farm joins over 100 leading organic businesses recognised in this year's awards.

Top chefs Sophie Grigson and Rose Gray where among the 70-strong judging panel who helped decide the winners from over 1100 entries into the awards. Mrs Kallaway, from Langley Chase Organic Farm, said: "Our focus is simply on producing wholesome, traceable quality organic lamb. Receiving such a high profile award is tremendous and an endorsement to the quality of our lamb from respected food critics and chefs,"

Langley Chase lambs mature naturally at grass and are sold from autumn onwards. The farm's website details all aspects of farm and flock management. Lambs are cut and jointed to each customer's individual requirements by master butcher accredited by the Soil Association.

Langley Chase Organic Farm'sManx Loghtan flock are a striking, multi-horned, primitive rare breed, understood to have been introduced to the UK by the Vikings. The breed produces dark cuts of meat with a distinctive taste and flavour. The meat has been found to be lower in fat and cholesterol than commercial breeds, according to studies by the Scottish Agricultural College**

This is not the first time the farm's lamb has received critical acclaim. The 2001 National Organic Food Awards saw the farm similarly highly placed. The farm also received a visit from top chef Mark Hix, filming for TV food programme Eat Up. Mark, Chef Director of leading London restaurants The Ivy, Le Caprice and J Sheekey profiled the holding and cooked a leg of lamb in the farm's organic hay. Mark said: "It is tremendous to visit a small organic farm producing top quality organic produce. Langley Chase lamb is a delicious tender meat with a little hint of game,"

More recently the farm has been included in the BBC's Food Heroes Directory, an online accompaniment to the current BBC TV programme Rick Stein's Food Heroes***.

Customer orders can either be picked from the farm, with prior appointment or delivered direct to the customer's door. All goods are vacuum packed in insulated cool boxes complete with fresh herbs and Langley Chase Organic Farm information. The weight of whole lamb is around 13kg, (or 29lbs). Lambs are sold either half or whole. A whole lamb costs £8.00 per Kg and a half lamb costs £8.50 per Kg. Direct delivery costs £15.