HEADINGLEY DEVELOPMENT TRUST (HDT)

PIG AND FOWL CO-OP

The Headingley Development Trust
is known and respected for its monthly, FARMA certified Farmer’s Market. Its  commitment to local produce is also reflected in the Pig and Fowl Cooperatives in conjunction with award-winning and Soil Association registered, Swillington Organic Farm. These community supported agriculture (CSA) schemes aim to procure meat to the highest animal welfare standards and supports local farming by giving the farmer a secure market.  They have really taken off in Headingley. The Co-ops are open to all and we are currently looking for new members for the next round of the schemes – November 2009-April 2010!

“Headingley farmers market has been a great boost to my business in many ways. As well as being a very successful market on the day it has also improved the links between farm and customer, many now visit the farm shop between markets and attend the various events held on the farm. The start of the fowl (and later pig co-op) attracted media interest which in turn brought more customers and inspired others to start similar schemes in York and Otley.”

Jo Cartwright at Swillington Organic Farm

“It’s a great mutual solution: members have access to high quality poultry, humanely reared and killed at a reasonable price - certainly competitive with supermarket prices - that cuts out the middleman and the supermarket, while Swillington Organic Farm can plan and is assured of a market for its high quality produce.”

                                 Helen Seymour, HDT.

Headingley Development Trust wants to support local community members in making informed decisions about the food that they buy. Many community members are concerned with how and where their food is grown, produced and reared so the market group from HDT got this project off the ground. Swillington Organic Farm is situated between Swillington and Woodlesford on the edge of Leeds. It has won the award for BEST YORKSHIRE MEAT PRODUCER 2007 and is registered with the Soil Association as a certified organic farm. For more information see www.swillingtonorganicfarm.co.uk.

The Headingley Co-op pays Swillington Organic Farm in advance for the animals which are then delivered to the Trusts’ Farmers Market for members to collect.

To join there is a one-off payment of £3 for HDT members (£6 non-members) to cover administration costs. Then there is a monthly sum to be paid and then a date set for your meat to be collected from the Market. The fowl and the pig co-ops are schemes which help to support local farming and local livelihoods. They have both captured a bit of media interest too, the latest being in the Soil Association’s magazine.

We are now inviting members for the next six months and are pleased to say that the price of £9 per bird remains the same as before.

If you would like the bird jointed this is an extra 50p per bird.

The cost for six months supply is £54 (or £57 if jointed) + £3 admin fee if you are member of HDT and £6 if you are not.

We are also open to new members for the pig co-op. The price for this will be £16.

1 joint, 1 pack of sausages, 1 pack of bacon, 1 other item to be chosen from diced pork, minced pork, chop, steak.

The cost for sixth month supply is therefore £96 + £3 admin fee for HDT members and £6 for non HDT members (£99 or £102). The schemes will be running from November 2009 to 30th April 2010.