HRH The Prince of Wales shows us Innovation in the Peaks!

Two innovative farming initiatives, inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales, which support Peak District hill farmers and help them to diversify, were launched on Friday 29th June.

Peak Choice and the Peak District Dairy Wagon were unveiled by HRH The Prince of Wales at farms where he met with the local farmers behind the schemes.

The initiatives, both supported by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), were set up after HRH was inspired to help the hill farmers following a visit to the Manifold Valley in the Peak District in February 2005.  HRH then sought the support of Business in the Community to set up the projects, working with the farmers to develop innovative ways to diversify their businesses and raise their incomes.

Peak Choice is a farmer-owned co-operative that will sell premium quality beef and lamb direct to consumers through a ‘box’ scheme.  The produce will come from animals born, raised and processed within the Peak District under good environmental management, fed on the heather moors and herb pastures. It will be available both through the internet and at selected local catering outlets.  www.peakchoice.co.uk

Through Business in the Community the following organisations have actively supported Peak Choice either through direct funding or in-kind support

Compass Group plc , Porcelanosa,  East Midlands Development Agency, HSBC plc, Logistik, Ford UK Limited, The Prince’s Charities, Land Strategies, English Farming and Food Partnerships, Commission for Rural Communities, EBLEX / MLC,  The Food Chain Centre and  Marakon

The Peak District Dairy Wagon is an innovative mobile training facility which aims to inspire and encourage dairy farmers in the Peak District to consider adding value to the milk they produce.  The Dairy Wagon will enable farmers to be trained in dairy processing and help them develop a range of marketable products, such as cheese, yoghurts, butter, flavoured milks and ice-cream.  Those completing the training can then venture into commercial production.

Through Business in the Community the following organisations have actively supported the Dairy Wagon either through direct funding or in-kind support

East Midlands Development Agency,  Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, The Co-operative Trust,  Jaguar land Rover, Nelsons Solicitors, Logistik, Cooper Parry, Budgens, Peak District National park Authority,  Reaseheath College, and  Booths Supermarkets