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Daffodils and Dairy Goods

Date: 07/02/2006 | Posted by John Garton
Two well-established family-run farms in St Peter have joined the Genuine Jersey Products Association, adding even more diversity the range of goods it promotes.

The first new member, Matthew Lamy of Somerleigh Farms, grows high quality daffodils and summer parsnips. The majority of his crops are exported to the UK and sold by the large supermarket chains but some of the flowers and vegetables will be sold locally. Matthew runs the business with his father, Peter, who has been a farmer since he was 14.

“We send about 15,000 boxes of daffs to the mainland each year and we have a lot of positive feedback and a good reputation in the marketplace. We package them in our distinctive yellow and green boxes and will be adding the Genuine Jersey logo because it’s all about quality and superiority,” says Matthew. His 110 vergées of yellow trumpet daffodils are being harvested now until mid March and will appear in local florists as well as being exported. Some of the daffodil bulbs – about 48 tonnes a year – are also harvested and sold for export.

The other new member is Classic Herd Limited, run by Darren and Julie Quénault at Manor Farm. They will be opening a farm shop in late spring selling their own dairy products that are actually made on site. Their range will include milk, single, double, whipping and liqueur creams, plain and flavoured yoghurts and yoghurt drinks. They are also making a range of cheeses including soft herb cheeses and Jersey camembert, brie and feta, and will sell chicken, pork and eggs. All the Classic Herd products will carry the Genuine Jersey brand, which conveys a message Darren is already passionate about:

“I’m a firm believer that if you can source food locally it should be done but you have to make sure people are aware of what’s involved. Genuine Jersey is an excellent way of highlighting what’s produced here and helping people understand the issues. We should be proud of what we provide in Jersey and using these logos is also a way of generating loyalty from the customers,” he explains. Darren took on the business from his father, Charles. In future he intends to work towards organic and GM-free status for the farm.

Genuine Jersey vice-chairman Peter Tabb has welcomed the new members. “It’s excellent news that Jersey farming families like these are choosing to join the huge variety of members we already have. Our logo is becoming a byword for local quality and people increasingly look for it so that they can support businesses within their Island.