Flour ground in an historic water-powered corn mill has been given a Fine Farm Produce Award from the National Trust.

Clyston Mill, by the River Clyst in Exeter, is more than 150 years old and produces wholemeal flour for its on-site National Trust shop, as well as local bakers Emma’s Bread and Ken’s Pastry.

Mill custodian Ursula Kirby said they use an old English variety of wheat – Maris Widgeon – from a local organic National Trust farm. She said: “It’s got a fine flavour and can be used in bread, cakes and scones, while it also has less gluten than some flour. We’re really pleased to get the award and I hope it will make us even more sales.”

The mill has produced three tonnes of flour this year and aims to mill seven tonnes next year.

Rob Macklin, head of agriculture at the National Trust, and chair of the judging panel, said: “All products must pass a checklist of environmental standards, and all primary ingredients must meet high production assurance.

“Products that successfully pass this check are assessed in their raw state by the judges before being cooked and subjected to a vigorous blind taste test by a panel of judges…  to win an award, they have to be at least as good as a high-quality, commercially available alternative.”

Twenty-two food and drink producers around England and Wales picked up one of the awards, which celebrate the quality of produce farmed, grown or processed on land owned or managed by the National Trust. They can now use the Fine Farm Produce Award logo on their products.

Topics