A BAKER from an award-winning Somerset farm shop has swapped her baking trays for seed ones to grow a huge pumpkin to fundraise for an equine charity in the county (October 2021).
Roxy Orton from Wiveliscombe grew the fruit on her family’s allotment and it’s now on show at Rumwell Farm Shop for people to guess its weight with donations to Conquest Centre.
Anne Mitchell, Joint Owner of the Farm Shop, which is located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, says: “It was a wonderful idea of Roxy’s to bring the pumpkin in for us to display for visitors to see in the run up to Halloween.
“We’re asking anyone who wishes to have a guess at the weight of the fruit to make a 50p cash donation at our tills, which we’ll pass on to our Charity of the Year, Conquest Centre.
“We’re hoping this year to raise lots of money for the organisation, which provides therapeutic support to people with physical and behavioural or emotional needs, involving equines, small animals and the environment.”
The nearest guesser will win 12 doughnuts made by Roxy and the Rumwell Farm Shop Bakery team.
Roxy explains: “My family and I have a few allotments and we’re really keen gardeners and enjoy growing our own fruit and veg. We grow so much that I often bring in our surplus produce for the Farm Shop to sell. For example, customers will have eaten some of our runner beans this summer. Our produce is seasonal, fresh and local. There are very few food miles involved.
“We like to grow things organically. With the pumpkin we gave it plenty of water and lots of encouragement. Like all plants, it benefitted from our TLC, and we often chatted to it as it grew. We used our own fertiliser too, but I can’t reveal our secret recipe!”
The pumpkin will be on show at Rumwell Farm Shop until October 29 for people to have a guess at its weight to be in with a chance of winning the doughnuts and helping raise invaluable funds for the charity.
Once a winner has been drawn, the pumpkin will then be expertly carved by the Rumwell Farm Shop team. It will be displayed in the Café for its Halloween Tea on October 31.
Its flesh will also be used to make soup that will be donated to Open Door, which is a day centre for Taunton’s homeless community.
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.
Due to customer demand, the product range soon increased, and the business grew. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved, as well as their daughters-in-law, Sophie and Donna.
Rumwell Farm Shop has a traditional Butchery counter selling its home-reared and free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef. Also on-site there’s The Rumwell Flower Shed, a Delicatessen, Bakery, Jam Kitchen, Food Hall, Wine Cellar and Gift Room.
Its own, home-grown potatoes are available, when in season, as well as everything from fruit, vegetables and groceries to plants, mostly British-grown cut flowers, gifts and cards.
The Rumwell Café is a large and spacious building. 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.
Families are welcome to the café and there is a menu especially for children. It also serves afternoon teas, roast carvery Sunday lunches and is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
The giant pumpkin will be on show at Rumwell Farm Shop until October 29 for visitors to guess its weight and make a 50p cash donation, which will be passed Conquest Centre.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located in Rumwell between Taunton and Wellington, on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
