Langley Chase Organic Farm Wins First Organic Award

19 October 2001: Langley Chase Organic Farm, Kington Langley, Wiltshire, has won joint second place in the lamb category of the prestigious national Organic Food Awards run by The Soil Association, it was announced today.

The smallholding, run by Mrs Jane Kallaway, specialises in the production of organic rare breed Manx Loghtan lamb - selling to customers locally and mail order around the UK. The Manx Loghtan is a striking multi-horned primitive rare breed and is widely understood to have been introduced to the British Isles 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 sheep, according to studies by the Scottish Agricultural College*.

The Organic Food Awards is in its fifteenth year and aims to search out the best in organic food and drink while looking to raise awareness about organic food. A team of 50 judges including Antonio Carluccio, actor Peter York, Sophie Grigson and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, have between them tasted and supped more than 1000 entries and visited organic shops and farms across the country.

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**

Mark Hix, Chef Director of leading London restaurants The Ivy, Le Caprice and J Sheekey visited the farm when filming for his forthcoming TV programme Taste, cooking 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,"

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.