Q Gardens Farm Shop is one of the first tranche of farm shops in the UK to achieve a new national certification standard from the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association (FARMA). The certification identifies and celebrates farm shops that are based on a farming business, selling their farm's own produce alongside foods from local and regional producers.
To earn the badge for the scheme, Genuine Own and Local - shortened to GOAL - Q Gardens Farm Shop underwent a strict inspection of the farm and farm shop, and a retail assessment from a secret shopper organisation who reported on information and customer service standards. Q Gardens, owned and managed by Rowan and Katie Napper, passed both parts of the certification with flying colours.
The organisation behind the scheme, FARMA, works with farm shops nationwide and is encouraging others to take up the scheme from January 2010. Rita Exner, FARMA Secretary, commented "Q Gardens is a perfect examply of the businesses that we want to see recognised under the Genuine Own and Local scheme. There are many studies showing that shoppers want to support local farmers and food producers because they want better food and to reduce their food miles. Through GOAL we hope to make it easier for them to find outlets that meet these objectives, and to shop with confidence where they see the GOAL sign.
