Farm shop owner Steve Croot has been crowned Derbyshire Local Food Hero 2014 at the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards.
Steve, who runs Croots Farm Shop near Duffield, Derbyshire, was presented with his prestigious award at a ceremony hosted by celebrity chef Valentine Warner.
“I am absolutely thrilled and incredibly proud to be named as Local Food Hero 2014 for Derbyshire. There is some fantastic local food produced in Derbyshire, and I am honoured to be part of it all,” said Steve.
“When we launched Croots Farm Shop in June 2008 the recession started, but we’ve had amazing support from customers, staff and our suppliers, and Croots has gone from strength to strength – so much so that we’ve expanded our butchers’ department and last year we extended our Shires Eatery to cater for demand.
“We stock a wide range of items produced on our doorstep, as well as many from across the region and beyond, which has proved to be a winning combination. Our sausages, pies and other meat products have won numerous national awards, thanks to the talented staff we have on our team.
“I am very passionate about Croots, about good quality food and drink, and about Derbyshire, which has been my home for many years, and I am delighted to receive this award. Well done to all the other winners in all the other categories and also to all the finalists.”
Croots Farm Shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, was also a finalist in the best Derbyshire breakfast category of the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards, which were presented at a ceremony held at Chesterfield Football Club's Proact Stadium.
Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport, said: “Derbyshire has so many fantastic food and drink businesses that it is getting harder each year to pick a winner.
“They all play an important role in the Derbyshire’s economy and we are delighted that our awards give them all much deserved recognition.”
Steve’s passion for Derbyshire food and drink, good quality food and drink in general, and for the county, manifests itself in many ways. He is a keen supporter of new and fledgling producers, and he regularly visits schools and other organisations to give talks about food and drink. One of the farm shop’s adopted charities is Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, which was established in 1891 to give disadvantaged Derbyshire children holidays in Skegness, Lincolnshire, and currently provides 450 holiday places per season for boys and girls aged from eight to 14.
Croots Farm Shop employs 21 people and sells products from more than 40 producers from within a 50-mile radius. It has won a number of Great Taste Awards, which are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food industry.
Croots Farm Shop is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (Shires Eatery until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.
For more information visit www.croots.co.uk
The Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards were sponsored by HSKS Greenhalgh Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors and Holdsworth.
