BEESWING, Dumfries (NNA) – The Loch Arthur Camphill community near Dumfries in Scotland has won the “Best Food Producer 2011” award for its cheese in the prestigious BBC Food and Farming awards at the end of last year.

In winning what Loch Arthur called “the Oscars of the food world”, the community was awarded its prize for a product which was described by the radio programme as “a great cheese, absolutely perfect”.

Clearly delighted at having won the award, Barry Graham, who established the Loch Arthur creamery in 1986 and since then has gradually built up the farm shop and other aspects of food production at Loch Arthur, told NNA that establishing a thriving biodynamic farm, creamery and farm shop had helped give an increased sense of pride and purpose to those who work there.

“We see this remarkable Food & Farming award as recognition of the work that we’ve been doing here for 25 years. Through the food we produce we’ve forged wonderful links to the wider community and shown just what can be achieved by a social enterprise working with care and conscience,” Graham said.

Loch Arthur is a working community in South West Scotland which includes men and women with learning disabilities. There are nine houses in which altogether more than 70 people live, including about twenty-eight people in supported tenancies. There is a farm, a large garden, a creamery, a bakery, a wood workshop, a weaving workshop and a thriving farm shop. The farm and creamery are Demeter certified.

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Item: 120206-01EN Date: 6 February 2012

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