A KENDAL business has been crowned the first winner of a Farm Shop of the Month award.

Essential Cuisine announced that Plumgarths Farm Shop is the inaugural winner of its newly-launched campaign.

Stocks, gravies and jus from Essential Cuisine are stocked in farm shops around the country. It wants to showcase the importance of supporting local businesses with its Farm Shop of the Month awards.

They were particularly impressed with the locally-sourced and butchered meat that Plumgarths sells to its customers and its commitment to strengthening the local economy in Kendal and helping to reduce food miles.

Plumgarths was created by John Geldard, Steve Chambers and Paul Airey. As well as being the business directors, at heart they are a farmer, a meat salesman and a butcher.

In 2003 Plumgarths received a visit from Prince Charles, who was particularly interested in its work with ASDA. He enjoyed a tipple of Damson Gin and was enthused by the way the business connected with the big nationals and with local producers and growers.

Plumgarths supplies 80 products from 30 farmers and producers to Asda.

The Farm Shop celebrated its 10th birthday in 2011 and the business has been faithful to its early principles: strengthening the local economy by reconnecting the food chain, reducing food miles, and creating sustainable jobs.

To celebrate the first winner of Farm Shop of the Month, Essential Cuisine and Plumgarths are also hosting a giveaway of Essential Cuisine’s award-winning products and a locally sourced meat hamper from Plumgarths.

The giveaway can be found on the Essential Cuisine Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/ECuisineHomeCook