Liberal Democrat Countryside Spokesman Congratulates Local Winner of Best Rural Retailers Competition

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 19th Feb 2008

Tim Farron MP, the Liberal Democrat Countryside Spokesman, today congratulated the local winner of the Countryside Alliance's third annual Best Rural Retailers Competition. This year the winner of the Cumbria area of the competition was Garth Steadman, proprietor of 'Steadman's Butchers.' Steadman's Butchers have won this award whilst being supplied almost exclusively through locally reared meat.

After congratulating Mr Steadman at the award ceremony, Tim Farron MP said:

"This just goes to show how far you can go using locally sourced produce. Steadman's Butchers use of locally sourced meat is hugely beneficial for the local economy and a fantastic example of the quality of rural enterprise in Cumbria."

"In addition to being better for the local economy, and helping out local farmers, retailers who source produce locally aid the environment - Garth's meat is slaughtered only 15 miles away, and having the start and finish of the production chain in such a compact area is of immeasurable benefit to the environment when compared to production chains that start miles away, often not only a foreign country, but on another continent! Not only do Steadman's Butchers fully deserve this award, they also set a shining example of what can be achieved in a way that is both friendly to local farmers and to the environment."