The competition was first run in 2005, and had an enthusiastic reception across the UK. Here is an overview of the 2005 regional winners. The overall national winner was Yorkshire winner Weeton's of Harrogate, and Highly Commended recognition was given to Northern Ireland winner, Chapman's of Portadown, and Eastern winner Pink Pig Organics of Lincolnshire.

NORTHERN IRELAND
Chapman's farm fresh fruit and vegetables, Portadown, Co Armagh
Mr Chapman is a leader in supporting local producers and comes from a farming family. He supports 20 local Northern Ireland producers and 10 UK producers. His employees visit schools and hold evening classes for different organisations to promote rural fresh food, show how to cook it and explain the health benefits that fresh food can bring to society and the economy. Chapmans also supply local primary schools with fresh fruit and vegetables which are sold at cost price to ensure that the local children get their “5-a-day” and are only eating quality products.

SCOTLAND
Winston Churchill venison, Dunoon, Argyll
A venison and game business comprising a farm, processing plant and travelling farmers market stall (manned by Anne and Winston Churchill) selling venison and game products. Top end retailers such as House of Bruar also stock the products. Stalkers and butchers kill, process and butcher the meat (which includes venison chorizo and venison salami, amongst more traditional venison and other game products) and everything is locally sourced. Anne and Winston are heavily involved with the Argyll Farmers Markets Assoc.
Highly Commended: Knowes Farm Shop, East Linton, East Lothian

NORTH EAST
David Carr’s Corner Shop, Longframlington, nr Morpeth, Northumberland
A village shop which is 880 square foot with 11,500 different lines. Described as “tardis-like”. Colossal support for local producers and very much a proud part of this very rural community. David is very involved in the local community and photos all over the shop show this. During Foot and Mouth Disease David saw a 25% drop in business but hung on in there and is still going strong.

NORTH WEST
Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith - http://www.cranstons.net
Very supportive of local produce – 70% of stock is local, traceable and clearly labelled, whether game, bread or mineral water. Cranstons has won awards for supporting local suppliers. Local schools visit Cranstons to find out more about food and where it comes from. Local sports teams are sponsored and supported. Described as “a valuable conduit for many local producers.”

YORKSHIRE
Weetons of Harrogate, West Park, Harrogate
http://www.weetons.co.uk/
A huge range of produce is available and over 45 local farmers producers are supported and stocked. Everything from local game and Thirsk buffalo mozzarella to Harrogate Spa water, in-store-baked biscuits, custom-made hampers and local apples from Ampleforth Abbey orchard are stocked (Weetons staff help to pick the apples because the monks can’t harvest them all in time. In fact, one of the monks nominated the store!) 75% of produce stocked is from within 40 miles, but some imported produce is sold to supply demand. Producers and suppliers are encouraged to come and meet customers and do in-store tastings. The in-store butchers know where every joint of meat is from.  Andrew Loftus, Managing Director of Weeton’s, is a subscriber of a number of Yorkshire hunts and rides out regularly. He is also a keen shot. The store supports local charities and schools by giving a large number of branded hampers for raffles and auctions.

EAST
Pink Pig Organic Farm Shop, Holme Hall Farm, near Scunthorpe, Linolnshire
http://www.pinkpigorganics.co.uk/
A family run, award winning farm shop with café. The shop is open 7 days a week. All produce is from a 24 mile radius, including Lincoln red beef and local lamb. Andrew and Sally Jackson are the proprietors, and both are heavily involved in the community: Sally is chair of the North Lincolnshire Food Partnership and is on the board of FARMA and hosts WI meetings, whilst her husband Andrew is on several NFU committees.  Andrew is the 3rd generation at Holme Hall farm, and went organic in 1999. Pig shaped blackboards around the shop ask “Did you know?” and present food facts to shoppers, whilst other boards say “No food miles here”. School visits are catered for.
Highly Commended: Horsted Farming Group, nr Norwich, Norfolk

MIDLANDS
Northfield Farm, Cold Overton, Oakham, Rutland
www.northfieldfarm.com
Jan McCourt runs the farm where he supports rare breed pigs, sheep and cattle. He also has a farm shop with a huge, open butchery area where the produce, which is slaughtered locally and hung on-farm, comes back to be butchered to order and customers can see it. Jan also makes frozen ready meals. Award winning produce from sausages to beef and stilton burgers (both made on-farm) to salt beef. Traceability is forensic! Jan also has a catering van which he takes to the Game Fair and other events such as the Guilfest music festival. Very supportive of other local producers (very popular local sloe gin) and involved in the local community – he coaches his son’s school rugby team and also hosts an annual meet of the Cottesmore Foxhounds. Northfields has been described by a nominator as “a wonderful reason not to go vegetarian”.

SOUTH WALES
Llwynhelyg Farm Shop, Sarnau, Llandysul, Ceredigion
This award winning shop sells a huge variety of foods from fruit, veg, cheese (over 50 types), preserves, home cooking, meat, dairy products etc. They have 120 suppliers (81% within a 40-mile radius, 85% from Wales) and sell around 650 products. The emphasis is on small-scale production and quality and the shop’s logo and brand is being developed in tandem with a web and mail order sales. Owner Jenny Davies collaborates with other local producers to publish the “West Wales Good Taste Trail”, which is now in its fourth year of publication. Nominated by a teacher who wants to teach children about healthy eating and has established a school fruit tuck shop which is stocked from the shop.

NORTH WALES
House of Rhug Organic Farm, Corwen, Denbighshire
http://www.rhug.co.uk/
Locally produced and butchered organic meat is slaughtered only two miles away. They have a catering facility offering take-away burger, sandwiches, smoothies & snacks. The farm shop sells organic produce plus rural gifts. Produce includes local meat and game and organic turkeys. They employ local people and sell game in season provided by local gamekeepers and shoots.  Over 200,000 people pass by the shop each year. Raymond Blanc buys the organic lamb. Rhug hosts a monthly farmers market.
Highly Commended: Swan’s Farm Shop, Mold, Flintshire

SOUTH EAST
Linklaters Village Shop, High Street, Rolvenden, Kent
Ken and Judith Linklater are mainstays of the community and their shop promotes and sells all manner of local produce from honey and beer to local plants. The shop also houses a Post Office and newsagents, which Ken and Judith have taken on as others have closed down. They are also a dry-cleaning agent. Ken and Judith run the local school stoolball team (like cricket), Judith is a school Governor and Ken was Chair of the Parish Council for many years.
Highly Commended: SW Doughty’s butcher, Doddington, nr Faversham, Kent

SOUTH
Sulgrave Village Shop, Sulgrave, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Run by 60 part time volunteers, aged between 16 and 80, via a committee. The shop is owned by the village, through the Parish Council. Produce on sale is local (especially the fruit from the orchard behind the shop), with village wine-buffs choosing the wine the shop sells. The shop is the hub of the community – our judge says: “This shop is a wonderful example of private initiative.  When the last shop closed down, the village financed the purchase of this small cottage, and have turned it into a really busy enterprise, which satisfies virtually all the needs of this little village.” The villagers also get a fair amount of tourism for the nearby Sulgrave Manor, which has connections to George Washington – and they promote it accordingly.
Highly Commended: Local Tastes, Thame, Oxfordshire

WESSEX
Sumbler Bros, Family Butchers, London Road, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Very old, long-established, high quality butcher and game dealer. The speciality Marlborough Sausage is famous locally. Rare Breeds Surivival Trust accredited. The beef comes from Idston Farm Ashbury, Wilts , their lamb is local & they also sell Wiltshire Long Horned Lamb from John Wallis, Woodborough, Pewdey Wilts  (previous Tedworth Hunt Chairman over many years). Ham & bacon comes from Sandridge Farm ,Bromham Wilts .  The bacon arrives as a side & the ham uncooked -  all cold meats prepared & cooked in house. Their game, including venison is all shot locally. The free range eggs are from Knockdown Tetbury Glos & their chickens are also from next door county Gloucestershire.

SOUTH WEST
Lobbs Farm Shop, St Ewe, St Austell, Cornwall
www.lobbsfarmshop.co.uk
A working farm and farm shop run by the three Lobb brothers (who are the fifth generation on the farm). Displays explain farming to visitors and maps at windows show what is growing in which field at any one time. Farm trips for all ages are complemented by tasting sessions. 90% of stock is Cornish. Newsletters and leaflets are readily available. Lobbs is affiliated to: LEAF - linking the environment and farming, RSPCA Freedom Foods Scheme, FABL and ACCS, FWAG. Have won several awards including Taste of the West Best Farm retailer for 2005 (Prize presented by Prince Charles at Highgrove.)