Farmers Get a Helping Hand from Calor

A farming business which was saved from closure thanks to the help of a produce market has been given the chance to continue its’ expansion with a special gift from Calor, the UK’s leading supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Nick and Ruth Strange, from Beech Hayes Farm, Churchinford, near Taunton, say their business was on the brink of collapsing six years ago – but the opening of Taunton Farmers’ Market dramatically improved the success of their farm.

Calor has donated a gas powered barbecue, worth around £200, to Nick and Ruth so they can cook regularly at the farmer’s market which will enable visitors to sample their delicious locally grown food.

The Royal Choice barbecue was presented to Ruth and Nick by Calor area sales representative, Mark Bishop, at Taunton Farmers’ Market recently. The couple say they will cook on the barbecue at Taunton Farmers’ Market on the last Thursday of every month and they will also use it at Bridgwater Farmers’ Market, Honiton Farmers’ Market and Churchinford Village Market.

Taunton Farmers’ Market was recently crowned the Best Farmers’ Market in Somerset 2005 by the prestigious Somerset Life Magazine.

Ruth says: “Our farm was really struggling to survive until the farmers’ market in Taunton was set up six years ago. We were thinking we might have to pack it all in but thankfully the business turned around when we started going along to the farmers’ markets. The market is a way for us to show our food off to the public and now we have regular customers who come and see us at the market every month to stock up on their meat.

"We were delighted when Calor offered to donate a barbecue to us. This means that visitors can sample our food, which will encourage them to buy it,” she adds.

Ruth and Nick sell pork, beef, lamb, Christmas poultry and free range hen, duck and goose eggs. Their small mixed livestock farm is based in the heart of the countryside. Their sausages are renowned throughout Somerset and they supply meat to the Castle Hotel in Taunton which recently won the Best Breakfast in Britain.

Calor’s Paul Riding said: “We were more than happy to donate a gas barbecue to local farmers Ruth and Nick. The barbecue will enable people to actually taste their produce there and then.

"This shows the versatility of Calor, which enables farmers and businesses to use gas for all of their energy requirements. Calor is at the heart of the rural community and is keen to support Britain’s quality food producers.”

Calor helps rural businesses by catering for all of their energy needs – including heating, crop drying, weed control and poultry and game rearing. The company also runs the established Calor Village of the Year initiative, that celebrates and rewards rural community life and sustainability.

Further still, Calor recently embarked on a campaign to link quality food production with quality food preparation, enlisting the support of celebrity chef Brian Turner.

Calor has been closely involved with agriculture for 70 years and is the market leader in the supply of LPG. Calor has more technical expertise and experience than any other supplier. The company has the largest supply network in the UK and one of the largest fleets of delivery tankers in Europe.