STAFF at a farm shop in Somerset have chosen to support a mental health charity based in the county this year (2024).
Rumwell Farm Shop has selected Mind in Somerset as its Charity of The Year for the next 12 months and will be fundraising for it in a number of ways.
Anne Mitchell, Partner at the multi-award-winning Farm Shop, which is located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, said: “Mind in Somerset does wonderful work helping to deliver services to people throughout Somerset and with mental health a key issue impacting on our farming community; it’s a very relatable charity for us to be supporting in this coming year.
“Throughout the year, we’ll be raising awareness of the work it does and donating 10p from the sale of every half dozen box of our large eggs to the charity and also proceeds from the sale of carrier bags. Plus, we’ll be hosting some fundraising events during the year, the first of which will be our annual quiz night, which will take place later this month (January). We hope to raise at least £3,000 for the organisation this year.”
Mind in Somerset works across the county to provide support and resources for people experiencing mental health challenges. It offers a range of services, including counselling, advocacy, and community outreach.
Its goal is to promote mental well-being, raise awareness, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues. It also engages in various community initiatives and events to foster a supportive environment.
Alison Baker, Corporate Partnerships Co-ordinator with Mind in Somerset says: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Rumwell Farm Shop as their Charity of the Year in 2024. As a family business that is so rooted in the Somerset community, we know that it will be a great opportunity, not only to raise funds for our charity, but also to raise awareness of the work that we do to support those experiencing mental health challenges across the county.”
Rumwell Farm Shop is an independent, family-run, award-winning business owned by the Mitchell family. It was originally a potato store, when David and Anne Mitchell began selling their potatoes and free-range eggs at the gate more than 25 years ago.
Due to customer demand, the range of products soon increased, and the Farm Shop grew into the place it is today. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved in the business, as well as their wives, Sophie and Donna.
The Shop has a traditional Butchery counter selling its home-reared and free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef. Also onsite is the new, purpose-built Rumwell Orchard events space, a Delicatessen, Bakery, Jam Kitchen, Food Hall, Wine Cellar, Gluten Free Kitchen, Food To Go service and Gift Room.
In 2023, the farm shop picked-up Taste of the West Awards for its homemade products including six category Golds for its bakery-made sourdough loaf and rock cakes, its Butchery beef burgers – featuring its own farm Angus beef – and its lamb burgers.
The team also won gold for its gluten free bread, baked inhouse in its bespoke GF Kitchen, and its Countryman’s Pickle, made by its onsite Jam Kitchen team. It was commended for a further two products – the Bakery’s Biscoff doughnut and the Deli’s chilli and spring onion Scotch egg, using eggs laid by its farm hens.
To add to this, Rumwell Farm Shop received a prestigious Gold Award in the Farm Shop and category at the Taste of the West Awards.
It was then named ‘Champion’ Best Farm Shop at the south west Taste of the West finals in November 2023 and also scooped the top prize for its instore made Butchery beef burgers, using beef from its farm.
It was also a finalist in the Large Farm Shop of the Year category in the 2023 national Farm Retail Awards and won nine Taste of the West Golds in 2022 for its Shop, Café and products too. Its dry cured back bacon was given the title of overall Champion Bacon in the 2022 Taste of the West Awards as well.
The food prepared in the Café kitchen is sourced from the Farm Shop, the Mitchell family farm, which is just four miles away, and other regional suppliers. The Café kitchen has Coeliac UK’s Gluten Free accreditation.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
