Local Farm Wins Top Award

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Our local Simeon Morgan Farming at Aubrey Farm in Keyhaven, which is operated by Simeon and his wife, Lisa, had an unexpected surprise this week.

The sheep farm had been shortlisted for the ‘New Forest Marque Producer of the Year Award’ by the Hampshire Life Food & Drink Awards, and Lisa had been planning which frock to wear to last Thursday’s gala dinner. The spectacular and glitzy evening was light years away from her normal days on the farm and as a busy mum.

The Hampshire Life Awards celebrate the finest restaurants, food and produce that Hampshire has to offer and give valuable recognition to restaurants, producers, growers and suppliers.

The awards night was held at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel at Dogmersfield Park, near Church Crookham, where the great and good from across the food industry in Hampshire enjoyed a a fine dinner and were eargerly awaiting the award announcements.

As the award announcements were made, our very own Milford on Sea Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant proudly picked up an unprecedented three awards, ‘Chef of the Year’, ‘Best Local Menu’ and ‘Best Customer Service’.

As Lisa & Simone celebrated both their friends and Milford on Sea’s success, the next Hampshire Life Food & Drink Award nominations were announced.  Alongside the other local producers who had made the shortlist were: Loosehanger Cheeses and Tatchbury Manor Farm.  Simeon Morgan Farming's nomination was in recognition of their fabulous locally produced lamb.

Then, …’The winner of Best New Forest Marque Producer of the Year is...... Simeon Morgan Farming’. The ‘Milford on Sea contingent’ in the room erupted, and Stacey from Verveine, being pregnant, almost wet herself with excitement!

Simeon Morgan Farming owner, Simeon, said; “We are delighted that our customers took the time to nominate us for this prestigious award. We get a tremendous sense of pride when we sell our meat and get a real buzz when we are told how much it has been enjoyed. It makes all the hard work worth it. We are passionate about offering a very personal service supplying a high quality product; promoting the importance of animal welfare, food provenance and generally educating about food production and farming in the New Forest. We are pleased that our award may assist us in reaching a wider audience and in promoting Zwartbles sheep, a breed relatively new to the New Forest area.”

Lisa added: ‘We get a tremendous sense of pride selling our meat and love to hear how much it has been enjoyed! We are passionate about supplying a high quality product; promoting animal welfare and educating people about food production and farming in the Forest.’

Congratulations go to both Aubrey Farm & Verveine for their combined four awards.  Milford on Sea is certainly at the top on the 'Hampshire Food Map'!

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A bit more about Simeon Morgan Farming at Aubrey Farm  

During the last Milford on Sea Food Week in April, the farm held ‘Keyhaven Lambing Live!’, where over 300 local people, families and children were all delighted to see behind the scenes at this arable and sheep farm. Simeon & Lisa are very much Milford on Sea people and enjoy welcoming school visits and explaining about all the food and animals they produce.

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About the New Forest Marque

Managed by the New Forest National Park Authority and New Forest District Council, the Marque gives businesses a distinctive 'New Forest' banner under which to sell their goods and services and help customers identify quality New Forest produce. It encourages people to ‘buy local’ and reduce the environmental impact of transporting food long distances, while helping to sustain the New Forest’s local economy.

Explaining about the New Forest Marque, Sarah Hunt, New Forest Marque Manager, said: ‘It is a privilege to see so many New Forest Marque members nominated. These awards are chosen by the people who live and shop in Hampshire. It reflects the high quality of produce and service here in the New Forest. ‘The Marque is unique and it is the only scheme like it in the country. It is a contracted scheme that audits its farmers and producers to ensure a minimum content comes from the New Forest. Producers also have to adhere to a series of stringent standards before the product receives its ‘marque’ of approval.’