Choice cheese-maker to increase production
17 April 2009
An award-winning Cornish cheese manufacturer is increasing
production thanks to a grant from the Rural Development Programme
for England (RDPE).
There has been a steadily increasing demand for the premium
cheeses produced by Whalesborough Farm Foods Ltd, of Launcells,
near Bude, which have won regional and national awards.
Sue Proudfoot started the small-scale artisan cheese
manufacturing company ten years ago but the premises on the family
farm were too small to allow for any more increases in
production.
So, with the help of the £17,000 RDPE grant, the production has
moved to rented businesses on another farm four miles away.
Whalesborough Farm Foods produces 11 tons of four types of hard
cheese each year and employs two part-time staff in addition to
Sue. Most of the cheese is marketed through wholesalers supplying
customers in the South West and London, including Fortnum and
Mason, the English ambassador in Paris and Country Cheeses in
Tavistock.
"We are considering proposals to introduce new products, and
demand for our current brands has been steadily increasing," said
Sue. "This project would allow us to increase cheese production by
up to 3-4 tons per annum.
"Based on feedback from wholesalers and customers, we think that
cheese production and associated milk processing into cheese will
increase by 36%, within 12 months of moving to the new production
unit."
The business currently processes 110,000 litres of
locally-produced milk each year into cheese.
One of the proposals associated with the expansion will bring
improvements to whey handling and disposal and the whey by-product
will be collected by Holsworthy Biogas and used as a feedstock for
its anaerobic digester.
"This expansion will contribute to the development of the
economy in the northern area of Cornwall," said Rob Hatt, head of
food and rural affairs at the South West RDA, which manages RDPE in
the region.
"Supporting this project will allow the business to make a
planned step change in production, introduce new products and
create additional employment. "
Work on fitting out the new premises and moving the production
line has just been completed and the first cheeses will be
available in May.
Ends
For further information, please contact Pat Murray, South West
RDA press office, on 07733264756 or Sue Proudfoot on 01288361317,
or email seproudfoot@aol.com
Notes to editors
RDPE
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) runs from
2007 to 2013. It is the 2nd pillar of the Common Agricultural
Policy and aims to support the creation of genuinely sustainable
farming, forestry and food sectors, whilst also bringing wider
benefits for the economy, the environment and rural communities. It
provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing
the environment and securing a range of public benefits for
society. Defra is the Managing Authority.
The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:
1. Improving competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry
sectors
2. Improving the environment and the countryside
3. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging
diversification of economic activity
In this region, the South West of England Regional Development
Agency (RDA) will deliver priorities 1and 3 with a budget of £156.8
million over the seven years. The RDA is also responsible for
ensuring that five per cent of the RDPE funding is spent on
enabling community involvement in rural development. The delivery
partners in the South West aim to ensure that investment in each of
the three priorities will help support investment in the
others.
The RDPE priority for improving the environment and the
countryside is being delivered nationally by the Forestry
Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme and Natural England's
Environmental Stewardship Scheme. In addition, a minimum of 5% of
the programme will be delivered through a local community-led
approach.
The aims, objectives and priorities for delivering RDPE in South
West England were agreed for the socio-economic investments with
regional partners and these are set out in the Regional
Implementation Plan. On the basis of a thorough analysis of South
West England's rural characteristics and economy, the Plan sets out
eight themes:
i. Skills development
ii. Social enterprise
iii. Business support
iv. Supply chain and adding value
v. Resource management (soil, water, energy, waste)
vi. Sustainable rural tourism
vii. Biodiversity and landscape
viii. Community-led development
Further more information on the RDPE and the schemes see
http://www.sw-ruralgateway.info/
Organisations involved in delivering RDPE
The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It
works in partnership with public, private and social purpose
organisations to drive up the region's productivity by giving
people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise, improving
infrastructure, regenerating places and promoting the strengths of
the region.
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve
and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban,
coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural
environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of
people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For more information
see www.naturalengland.org.uk
Environmental Stewardship (ES) was launched in 2005, builds on the
very best practice already evident in British farming. During the
period 2007-13 the national budget for ES will be £2.9 billion. The
objectives of ES are to:
- Conserve wildlife (biodiversity).
- Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character.
- Protect the historic environment and natural resources.
- Promote public access and understanding of the
countryside.
- Natural resource protection.
The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible
for forestry in Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with
grants, tree felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the
benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Government on
forestry policy. For further information, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk
Contact Details
Name Pat Murray
Tel 07733264756
Email pat.murray@southwestrda.org.uk