Events and News for Shute Fruit and Produce

12 December

Start a new family tradition this Christmas.  Gather friends and family of all ages and put together your very own Gingerbread house.  You can join us in workshops at various locations around Devon, from River Cottage Axminster, to the Big Sheep in Bideford.  (Please book directly with the venue operators).  Failing that, we have ready to go flat packs for sale at the markets throughout the season.  They make terrific presents for the holidays when you have a crowd of family about and a miserable prospect of sleety rain at the windows.  All you need to add are the sweets and a bit of royal icing.  We even give you the recipe for that.

Since I have been running the gingerbread workshops I am always amazed how parents, grandparents and other relative bond with the children while creating their own personal houses and how their eyes light up as their gingerbread house comes alive with a host of sweets ranging from smarties, peppermint, sprinkles and biscuits.

 

 

27 October

Our newest preserving course, Christmas in a Jar, is now open for booking.  Join us for an enjoyable day preparing for the holiday season ahead on Saturday 12 November or Sunday 20 November between 9 am and 4:30 pm.

Don’t miss this exciting workshop filled with the smells of Christmas.  Save money with homemade mincemeat, and make posh pickled shallots for Boxing Day.  Lori will share her secret recipe for her award winning very merry cranberry sauce, whilst Chris Hunt shows you how easy it is to prepare her famous sweet chilli jam.  You will discover delicious desserts in a jar ready for serving at a twist of the lid.  Get a head start for the celebration season--you will take home two jars of each preserve—one to keep and one to give as a tasty and welcome homemade gift.

Included in the price are morning coffee, lunch and a festive tea, as well as all ingredients.  You need only bring an apron and two empty jars (call Lori for details on the jars!).   Suitable for novices and experienced preserve makers alike.  Make all your Christmas Preserves in one jam packed, hands-on day of fun.  Only £75.00.  Call 0626 777570 or email info@shutefruit.co.uk for booking or more information.

 

20 September

We are so pleased to report that we won three awards for Lori’s preserves in the last few weeks.  Lori’s fabulous raspberry jam took third place in the English homemade jam category at the World Jampionships in Scotland, home of raspberries.  Then more recently, her Full of Beans piccalilli won a silver medal whilst the traditional Marrow and Ginger Jam won gold at the Taste of the West competition.  After her surprise subsided, Lori nearly broke her arm trying to pat herself on the back.  Do come have a taste for yourself at the markets and food fairs to see if you agree with the judges.

In the meantime there are still a few remaining places on our preserve course, Preserving the Harvest, for both 8 and 9 October.  It is a great day out with plenty of good food, good company, and hey, you get to learn how to make amazing preserves at the same time.  Fill your cupboard, give them as gifts, or make full use of your garden’s bounty; you will amaze yourself by learning a practical and satisfying skill to share with others.  Why not join us to learn to make great jam, luscious lemon curd, tangy chutney and that most British of breakfast icons, marmalade.  Only £55.00 for a full day of hands on learning that includes all the ingredients, jars, lunch and recipe booklet.  All you need is an apron.  Email info@shutefruit.co.uk or ring 01626 777570 to reserve your place. 

24 June 2011

It is like Christmas for us every year the day we open for business.  Will we have any customers?  Will we have everything we need ready?  Will the crops be tasty?  Most importantly, will it rain?  The Met Office are predicting rain, but not until late afternoon, so here is hoping they are right for a change.    Tradition on the farm is the first customer of the season to pick their own gets a glass of elderflower cordial to celebrate.  Will it be you?  

 

May 2011

The recent Exeter Festival of Food and Drink was a great success.  Not only did they have a giant screen to show “THE WEDDING”, but the atmosphere was fantastic. 

One of the highlights was Totally Tomatoes, a masterclass sponsored by Fermoys Garden Centre near Newton Abbot, jointly presented by Toby Buckland and Shute Fruit and Produce.  Whilst renowned local gardener Toby gave tips on growing tomatoes, Lori Reich, of Shute Fruit and Produce, demonstrated how to preserve and prepare these luscious homegrown fruits.

Toby’s top tip was how to best use the ubiquitous grow bag.  Try dividing it in half, cutting through the middle, then setting it up both halves perpendicular to the normal direction, and set into it two tomato plants.  This way each tomato plant gets enough compost and space to fully develop their roots.

Lori’s top recipe was for a gorgeous chutney combining tomatoes with another abundant garden fruit, apples.  Many people, if not having their own apple tree, may have neighbours with extra, willing to trade a few apples in exchange for some jars of this lovely preserve.  Serve it with cheese for a meal in the garden.  Recipe can be found on the recipe page under “miscellaneous”. 

 

January 2011

Four Bishopsteignton businesses were delighted to present a hamper of delicious local goodies to Claire Clifford from Plymouth, the winner of the Bishopsteignton Murder Mystery Treasure Trail. Claire, an avid Treasure Trails fan who has completed over 20 trails in the last 12 months, was delighted to find that her name was selected at random from all the correct answers submitted by would-be Super Sleuths, who managed to use their detective skills to solve “The Mysterious Murder of The Mighty Minister”!

The Bishopsteignton Treasure Trail involves a fun and educational walk around the village, whilst taking advantage of the many foodie delights that are on offer in this scenic and historic haven, tucked away in rural South Devon.

Claire was thrilled to receive her prize which included a fabulous lunch at Cockhaven Manor, a bottle of quality wine from Old Walls Vineyard, superb hand crafted beer from Red Rock Brewery and a hamper of award winning preserves and produce from Shute Fruit and Produce.

Read more here

 

November 2010

Lori was surprised and delighted for her jam to win "Best Strawberry Jam" at the first national Real Jam Festival sponsored by the national Women's Institute. The surprises continued when her name was drawn out of the hat for the limited edition strawberry stove designed especially for the festival by Stoves, one of the sponsors of the festival. So now the strawberry jam (and raspberry jam, even the runner bean chutney) is cooked on top of strawberries!