Fodder, the newly opened flagship food shop and café, set up and championed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, has signed up leading artisan Thirsk cheesemaker, Shepherds Purse, to supply its full range of multi-award-winning speciality cheeses. 

The food shop, based on the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, part of the recently opened £5.1m Regional Agricultural Centre, has also recruited Shepherds Purse founder, Judy Bell, to train delicatessen staff on the qualities and intricacies of her own cheeses and the range of British cheeses they are stocking.  The training, which includes hygiene, cutting, selling, tasting and displaying cheeses, will help staff increase their knowledge and understanding of the products and be well informed for consumers shopping at Fodder. 

Cheese and food lovers will be able to choose from a range of cow’s, ewe’s and water buffalo milk cheeses, all traditionally handmade at the Bell family dairy in Thirsk.   The first company to reintroduce blue cheesemaking since its disappearance from the County in the 1960s, Shepherds Purse, supplies its best selling Yorkshire Blue, made with 100 per cent locally sourced cow’s milk, alongside ewe’s milk favourites, Mrs Bells Blue and the infamous Fine Fettle Yorkshire Cheese.  Flavoured cheeses, such as Katy’s White Lavender and Basilano are also supplied.  Ten Shepherds Purse cheeses in total are on offer on the Fodder delicatessan, alongside other quality British cheeses.

Judy Bell of Shepherds Purse Cheeses said: 'I am absolutely delighted to supply our entire range of cheeses to Fodder, which aims to inject new life into the rural economy and support our region’s farmers and producers.  As the Deliciouslyorkshire Champion, it is fantastic to see the cream of local produce available at Fodder, which offers consumers the best food and drink across the region.'

Heather Parry, deputy chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society said: 'We're really privileged to have Judy Bell advising us on cheese at Fodder.  Her knowledge of the industry is exceptional and her passion for local producers really shines through her training. She's a great Yorkshire Food
hero in every way, and her cheese is superb.'

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