Published: 24/04/2024 By A-J Monro
Symonds & Sampson have been proud supporters of Love Local, Trust Local since they were formed in 2018. Created by farmers and producers for farmers and producers, they have successfully created a series of awards to encourage and support the fantastic producers and makers of Dorset food and drink.The 2024 Love Local, Trust Local Awards are open for entries, and, with 16 categories, giving more opportunity for producers large and small to enter. The closing date is in May, so if you are a producer yourself, or have a favourite local producer who should enter, please head to the LLTL website for further details.
Meanwhile, the following article is taken from our in-house magazine, Country Matters 2024, and summarises the tremendous progress the LLTL Awards have made recently.
A lot has been going on behind the scenes at Love Local, Trust Local. You may have heard of us through our fabulous Love Local, Trust Local awards – an annual celebration of local products that are grown, produced, caught, reared, brewed, crafted or cooked here in Dorset. The 2024 Love Local, Trust Local awards open for entries in March, with exciting new categories. But we’ve also been busy with other things. We have revamped our website and it is now our information hub where everyone can find out about what we do, who we support and who is supporting us.
Our directory section makes it easy to find and connect with local producers who share our ethos and support our brand. And through our relaunched membership and sponsorship packages, we now have something to offer every business and producer, no matter what their size. While all this has been going on, we have been continuing to support our previous award winners and sponsors through our social media channels. There are exciting times are ahead for the Love Local, Trust Local brand and we would love you to join us for the journey. We are totally self-funded, other than the support of our sponsors, and are working hard to raise our profile to secure grants and additional funding where possible to help us spread our message.
Love Local, Trust Local was founded in 2018 by farmers, for farmers and producers. The Cossins family are sixth generation farmers. As well as their family farm, for over 30 years they have owned and run an award-winning country pub in the Tarrant Valley, just outside Blandford Forum in Dorset. In 2012 they opened a farm shop and butchery on the farm.
As supporters of the LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) campaign, every third year they host Open Farm Sunday, taking the opportunity to talk to as many local people as possible. Their visitors love knowing the story of their food, the miles it has travelled and that they are buying and eating genuine local produce. Many ask: “How do we know that the food we buy really is what it says it is?” and, after a handful of these conversations at the 2018 Open Farm event, the Cossins decided to do something about it.
Love Local, Trust Local – Dorset’s own produce label – was born. The aim is to increase consumer trust in buying local, and promote products with genuine provenance and full traceability. There is no better time to get involved and support our local farmers and producers. Our farming industry is fragile and there is an ongoing concern about where our food will come from in the future with everything our world is facing right now. The time is right to buy produce from our own land, famers and producers and celebrate everything Britain has to offer, before it is too late.
You can find us at Love Local, Trust Local, Rawston Farm, Tarrant Rawston, Dorset DT11 8SF or call us on 07831 184920. If you are visiting Dorset Spring Show at Kingston Maurward College this weekend, do drop in to see us.
You’ll find the article on P36 of Country Matters 2024 (below), or please do call into your nearest Symonds & Sampson office to collect your free copy.