Hedgerow Products & Chocolate Cravings

Producers of cakes, jams, pickles, preserves etc cause a bit of a problem for me on the main site because whilst their producers are no doubt local is their produce local produce? Obviously some things are unlikely to be local – marmalade, chocolate etc. I tend to judge by whether ingredients that are available from local sources are used. When considering producers for inclusion in this directory, after the initial contact the second question I ask is what local ingredients they use – this sometimes results in total silence!

I'm not going to name and shame the offenders but instead tell you about two very different producers that illustrate good local practice.

Meryl Shirtcliffe of Chocolate Cravings wouldn't, on initial impressions, be the obvious person to feature for using local ingredients – chocolate is not really farmed in Old Dalby! She is listed on this site not only because she produces a superb craft product but also because she uses local ingredients, such as fruit from Wymeswold and local cream, whenever she can.

Alastair ‘Matti’ Mattinson at Hedgerow Products in Blaby was quick to reply to my email asking him about the provenance of his ingredients. .
Picture of Hegrow Products Chutney
He uses:
  • Apples from Misterton and Bitteswell
  • Elderberries from Mowsley
  • Bullace and damsons from Countesthorpe
  • Hawthorn and crab apples from Blaby
  • Quince from Glen Parva
  • and more crab apples from Bitteswell, Willoughby Waterleys and Hinckley
His produce is available from Flackies Butchers in Blaby.

I'm impressed!
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