Hundreds of cheese and ice cream samples produced in Derbyshire were also given to young and old from the NFU stand, which was set up outside the town’s livestock market.
A tractor formed part of the display alongside video screens playing messages from farmers and growers from across the county thanking people for their support.
The event, which was held as part of the NFU’s Back British Farming Day saw Alan Salt from Hartington Creamery on site to talk to people about his work as a master cheesemaker.
Brilliant food
Alan, often referred to as Salty, has more than half a century making Stilton and other quality cheeses including Derby Cheese.
This is an historic regional cheese, unique to the creamery and samples of it were a huge hit with those visiting the NFU stand.
Known for its unique texture and flavour Hartington Creamery is the only producers of Derby Cheese in Derbyshire and across the UK.
Salty said: “I have worked here my entire life making cheese and what we produce at Hartington is brilliant to make and even better to eat.
“After all of this time it still amazes me every time the milk tuns into curds and whey, it’s just magical and then we turn those curds into something truly excellent.
“I had a great time meeting people to talk about what we do.”
“We have such brilliant food provenance in Derbyshire.”
Alan Salt
Public are genuinely interested
NFU Midlands Regional Board Chair and Derbyshire farmer Jane Bassett said she was thrilled to be at the event and speak to shoppers about all that happened on farm, with people genuinely interested in food and how it was produced.
She said: “The whole event was fantastic and we had really good engagement with shoppers showcasing the very best of Derbyshire produce.
“That included the cheeses from Hartington Creamery and delicious Hope Valley Ice Cream from the Marsden Family, who’ve been dairying in the area for generations.
“We also had a useful chat with MP John Whitby who represents the Derbyshire Dales where we discussed food production challenges, obstacles to growth and issues like planning and access to water at times of drought and the ability to store it when we have too much
“Food imports were also on the agenda too, including an EU ban on Brazilian beef and poultry products and the potential impact of that on producers here.”
Taking members' views onboard
Mrs Bassett said the MP was in listening mode on all of the issues that were discussed and said he would take NFU members’ views back to Westminster.
“We also had councillors visit the stand which was very pleasing to see,” she added.
“For us it remains important we keep having discussions with local politicians about county farming and food, alongside those talks with government nationally, about how our farms can build confidence, resilience so they and our communities can thrive.”
Engaged and positive
David Handford, Derbyshire county chair, who is a dairy farmer with his family at New Mills in the High Peak said shoppers were engaged and were very positive.
“I enjoyed speaking to them about our cows and we also had a display of different cereal crops and seeds produced on farm, which allows people to get hands on and ask questions.
“That went down very well alongside the food samples on offer and I think there is a lot of support at the moment for what we do and they are aware of the many challenges we face.
“I’d like to thank shoppers for backing us and to all who came and visited us.