Farmers have had a difficult time over the last 25 years; not only was there an outbreak of Foot & Mouth in 2001 but, 17 years earlier in 1984, the EC (as Alf Garnet would say, ‘In its infinite wisdom’) introduced Milk Quotas to avoid over-production of milk in Europe.
For many farmers this was disastrous; the monthly milk cheque was the lifeline on which they relied to keep the business going throughout the year, until their seasonal income from crops came on stream.
Mahorral Farm, situated at the foot of the Clee Hills at the southern tip of Shropshire, was a typical case. Diversification – yes, but into what? Run by a father and son partnership – Peter King-Turner and Chris – they struck out in a completely new direction, cider-making, in which they had no previous experience at all.
Recorded in 2008 this piece was the winner of its class in the Fédération Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons.
