A HORSFORTH pick your own farm has been shortlisted for the national Farm Retail Awards, sponsored by specialist retailer COOK.

The pick your own category has been judged earlier than others in the awards in order for the judging to take place at the height of the PYO season.

Those shortlisted for the PYO category will now go through to the awards in March 2024.

Horsforth Pick Your Own has been shortlisted alongside Bells Farm Shop, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire and Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

Rory Kemp established Horsforth Pick Your Own almost 40 years ago in traditional small oak tree lined pasture fields, overlooking Leeds and Bradford. Now joined by his son Joe, the PYO has evolved and they now grow both table top (7.75km) and in the ground strawberries (3 acres) along with raspberries (2.5 acres). For Halloween pumpkins were added in 2018 with pumpkin numbers increasing year on year to currently 70,000. For the festive season, Yorkshire grown Christmas trees are sold along with free-range bronze turkeys reared on the farm from poults, and then hand plucked, hung and dressed.

Chairman of the Farm Retail Association, Emma Mosey said: “The standard of entries has been incredible. We look forward to seeing entrants from all remaining categories now, and celebrating the very best in the business at our awards ceremony next March. Good luck to all of our finalists!”

The remaining categories are now open. All members of the Farm Retail Association are eligible to enter the awards free of charge.

To find out more about joining the Farm Retail Association, contact FRA Manager, Laura Copeland on 01423 546214 or e-mail lauraj@farmretail.co.uk