Langage Farm in Devon – which produces a range of luxury dairy products – has been awarded Champion Dairy Product of the Year as well as the Sustainability Award winner at the prestigious Taste of the West 2022 event this week.
Langage Farm were presented with their two awards at the special award ceremony held in Exeter University’s Great Hall earlier this week. “It was great to see the Taste of the West Awards event back after 3 long years,” said Steve Davies, Langage Farm’s National Account & Marketing Manager. “Throughout a celebratory lunch, featuring some of Devon’s finest food, organisers Taste of the West revealed the champion winners of each product category and the very best hospitality and retail establishments across the South West. They also announced that Langage had won their inaugural The South West Sustainability Award.”
“2022 has been a fantastic year for us,” added Steve. “We’ve received a number of awards and commendations in regional competitions recognising the high quality of our dairy products. Overall, we have been awarded five Golds and one Commendation from Taste of the West, plus, the Champion Product for our Luxury Lemon Curd Layered Yogurt and The South West Sustainability Award. We are all so proud.”
The Taste of the West Awards programme has been promoting and supporting the South West food and drink industry for 30 years. It has grown to become the most prestigious food and drink awards programme in the South West.
The Taste of the West Sustainability Award is given to a business in the region that is a pioneer and leader in some aspect of sustainability, from economic, social and environmental development.
Langage Farm is a family run business that has been producing its renowned, traditional Devonshire clotted cream since 1948. Langage Farm produces dairy foods for sale across Devon and Cornwall, and also nationally through partnerships with supermarkets such as M&S and ALDI, usually on a “Best Of” or “Specially Selected” basis. “Our luxury yogurt, clotted cream (including flavoured creams) and ice cream are made from milk produced on our adjacent farm,” added Steve. “We use our own herd of Channel Island cows grazing on the lush green West Devon fields.”
“Winning these prestigious awards means so much to us all. And to receive The South West Sustainability Award, really is the icing on the cake for us.”
The Harvey family owners of Langage Farm are firm believers in the importance of sustainability and have the only UK dairy with a working farm, manufacturing plant and Anaerobic Digester Plant all on the same site. The energy created from food waste is used to power the factory and the biofertilizer bi-product goes to the farm. In addition, since the completion of the AD plant, they have planted 100 trees, some pine, birch and oaks, as well as 300m of hedge rows to help reinstate some biodiversity.
“The AD plant provides a self-sufficient electrical supply,” added Steve. “With the excess electricity we produce going back into the National Grid. Producing 100% green electricity and heat as well as the replacement of fossil fuel derived fertilizers not just on our own farm but also the surrounding farms to create a better soil quality.”
Recycling is an important objective at Langage with glass replacing plastic for yogurts produced for several major supermarkets and where plastic is used for packaging, it is 100% recyclable.
In addition, Langage has introduced a process called “Bokashi”. Through fermenting organic manures under anaerobic conditions, it improves efficiency, reduces reliance on artificial fertiliser and, most importantly, enhances soil health. Soil health is also being improved by the growing of fodder beet, not only to feed the herd, but to reduce the levels of potassium in the soil.
“We also source a significant amount of water from our own borehole,” added Steve. “And we’ve installed solar panels and planted wildflowers too.”
From an economic and social development perspective, in the past 12 months Langage Farm has taken on 6 young local people who were out of work, providing valuable work experience and a footing on the employment ladder through the Government Kickstart Scheme.
“Looking to the future, we have recently obtained planning permission for an expansion of the AD plant, so that it can take local authority waste and convert it to gas for either road traffic or injection back into the gas National Grid.”
Langage Farm also plans to continue their wildlife management strategy, including increasing the wildflower planting and the introduction of honey bees. “We hope to use the honey from our own bee hives for our yogurts,” added Steve.
The finalists for Champion Dairy product:
Organic Natural Yogurt – Brown Cow Organics (Somerset)
Langage Farm Devonshire Clotted Cream – Langage Farm (Devon)
Langage Farm Devonshire Luxury Layered Lemon Curd (Devon) WINNER
Salted Farmhouse Butter – Oak Park Dairy Limited (Devon)
The finalists for The South West Sustainability Award:
Barnaby’s Brewhouse Ltd – Staverton
Devon Farm Kitchen – Torquay
Langage Farm – Devon WINNER
Real Wrap Company – Bristol
Stroud Brewery -Stroud
Westaway Sausages Ltd – Newton Abbot