A VOLUNTEER-run community shop held a special tasting event showcasing produce from Hampshire businesses.
The event was held at the Candover Valley Store, in Preston Candover, on November 29 and November 30.
The special Christmas tasting saw half a dozen local producers from across the area visit the shop, where they could meet customers, chat about their items and share free samples.
Neighbours and local producers Tim Hides and Margot Don, from Bradley, attended the event together.
Tim, who produces honey for Hampshire Honey, said: “We have got the village shop here which has been open for five years, and they have always been very good to local people like us with our produce, and it’s our way of supporting the local community shop.
“The fact that I just spoke to a local customer said that she always puts my honey on her cereal every morning, and asked me to supply it by the gallon – it’s nice to get that sort of feedback. And coming to places like this, it’s a chance for the people who buy the produce to see who we are.”
Margot, who makes apple juice at Bradley Orchard, said: “I think it is very good that our shops support small local producers.
“It is nice to meet the people who buy our goods regularly.”
Victoria Hardman, from Chalk Stream Trout, called the event “a wonderful opportunity for local producers to showcase our wares.
Kelvin Lewington, from the Homemade Brownie Company in Basingstoke, had brought several samples for visitors to try.
He said: “We like to highlight our produce, so being able to do so at one of our retailers is a great opportunity. We have done it a few other places as well, but it is nice to meet some of the customers who come here and buy the products, and hopefully, we’ll convert some new ones as well.”
Lucy Muncey and Jocelyn Rogerson, members of the Candover Valley Store management committee, said that they believed the event was going well.
Jocelyn said: “We’ve noticed over the past couple of Christmas’s is there has been more and more customers coming in to buy products, and what’s really lovely is we’ve had people travelling to France but taking English fares, Hampshire fares such as cheeses, with them as gifts.
“So, we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to build on that and showcase some of the lovely products we sell. It is our first real dip of a toe in the water, and we’re really delighted that people have been able to come along.”
Lucy said: “As well as lots of regular faces, out regular customers, we have also seen lots of new people coming in. It’s great to see that we’re widening our base and appealing to a wider audience.”
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