Suffolk Farm Shops & Local Produce

Driving through the villages you will see fresh eggs, flowers and vegetables for sale outside local houses and a jam jar in which buyers can leave their money. It's a charming sight of a seemingly bygone era that still exists in parts of Suffolk. Also visit recommendations below: local farm shops, delicatessens, farmers markets and Pick Your Own.

Give the big supermarkets a miss whilst in Suffolk and enjoy the local produce in season. 

 

Farm shops make buying local produce a real experience to remember: a taste of Suffolk. Warning - some shops still close on a Wednesday afternoon; telephone beforehand if in doubt.

Map of farm shops and Pick Your Own

Red rosettes indicate top rated by Suffolk Character Cottages

The Jolly Meat Company

 

5 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - 83 High St, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 5EA.

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

Our guests love the truly wonderful Breakfast Boxes prepared for Suffolk Character Cottages by the butchers The Jolly Meat Company on Hadleigh high street. It's great value and lovely local produce - most guests go back and order more! Pick up a pack on your way through to save time shopping separately for meat, baked beans, eggs, tomatoes, butter, bread separately. We do not make money on these breakfast boxes or local produce. We simply forge links with quality local suppliers so our guests can enjoy the best.

TIP:~ Pick up a Sunday Night Supper pack too and you'll have something to cook when you get home. BBQ packs available in summer.

Breakfast Pack - order ahead (by Friday 11am)

Call Mr Sam Ward 01473 810119  Quote: Suffolk Character Cottages

Partridges Farm Shop

5 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - 78 / 80 High Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk, IP7 5EF (map) Phone: 01473 822191

Open: 8.30 - 17.30 (Mon-Sat)

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

Positively brims with fresh local produce, much grown on their own farm including traditional cherries and deli goods. Sells local products from the 'Tastes of Anglia Table' range. This farm shop is owned by a generation of Suffolk farmers. Buy homegrown and locally produced fruit and vegetables, together with a fine range of preserves, bakery, dairy products, flour, fresh herbs, dried fruit, nuts, pulses, organic mushrooms.

TIP:~

Try the range of Daphne's cakes: ginger, sponge, meringues for filling with strawberries and cream.

Hollow Trees Farm Shop

5 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - Hollow Trees, Semer, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP7 6HX‎ (map) Phone: 01449 741247

Open: 8.30 - 17.45 (Mon-Sat) Sundays & Bank Hols: 9.00 - 17.00

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

We are fortunate to have this award winning farm shop nearby. Hollow Trees with its pink pig mascotis has something more to offer: a farm trail, a coffee shop and events for children. Everything produced on the farm is sold through the shop; the vegetables and livestock. Food miles are nonexistent on many of the lines. Buy: freshly baked bread and cakes, deli foods including smoked salmon, gourmet sauces, pickles, conserves, apple juice, cider, cheeses and chocolates. Flowers, plants & pet foods too.

TIP:~

Pop in Sunday for freshly baked bread and croissants. Sometimes has a local fish van selling lovely Cromer Crab.

Also highly recommended Alder Carr Farm - Needham Market, Creeting St Mary Ipswich , Suffolk. IP6 8LX. Phone: 01449 720 820 Rhubarb, strawberries, gooseberries, broad and runner beans, raspberries, currants, tayberries, blackberries, sweetcorn. Pick your own fruit and vegetables, and fruit ice cream. All-year round operation.

Hadleigh Food Market Day - Friday mornings only

In the small Market Place offering a wide range of stalls, including fish, fruit and vegetables, flowers, jams, olives and cheese.

TIP:~

Try the catch of the day from the Crystal Waters fish lorry including fresh Cromer Crab

Sunflower Health Food Shop

5 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings -101 High Street, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 5EJ (map) Phone: 01473 823219

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

Lovely, old-fashioned non-chain store health food shop. All the usual fare from vitamins, dried fruit, herbal teas, live yogurts, diabetic food, bread. If they haven't got what you are looking for they can order.

Hadleigh Maid Chocolates

5 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - 35/37 George Street, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP7 5BD (map) Telephone: 01473 828996

Open: 9.00 - 17.00 (Mon-Sat) Might be closed Wednesday afternoons.

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

Okay we admit this is not a farm shop but it is local produce and too delicious not to include in this food list. Hadleigh Maid is Suffolk's own version of 'Chocolat' without the steamy scenes (nb the film about a chocolate shop in France staring Juliette Binoche). Don't be deceived by the small and pretty shop on George Street with its stripey awning and bell on the door: Hadleigh Maid is a large retailer supplying some of the biggest household-name retailers in the UK and has a large factory on the Hadleigh industrial estate.

There's chocolate for all tastes: simple generous chunky bars of dark, milk or white chocolate, beautiful child-friendly chocolates in country shapes, exotic truffles, hand-trimmed boxes of luxury chocolates. A trip at Easter time is really worthwhile to see their gorgeous eggs and fabulous chocolate cockerels, chicks and lambs.

TIP:~

And here's the perfect excuse - if you need one - just 20g of Hadleigh Maid's Acticoa Dark Chocolate creations provides you with your recommended daily intake of antioxidants to help you maintain a healthy body and mind. Succulent and juicy cranberries infused with natural orange juice and dried morello cherries have been coated in Acticoa Dark Chocolate, rich in sources of polyphenols. These are handmade and beautifully packaged in a way that only Hadleigh Maid can.

DELICATESSENS

Fergusons

5 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - 48 High St, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP7 5AL (map) Telephone: 01473 824665

Open: 9.00 - 17.00 (Mon - Sat) Might close on a Wednesday afternoon.

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

This bijou little deli sells both local and fine produce from France. The shelves bulge with tempting jars of pickles, soups, pates and biscuits. All the typical deli produce: hams, cheeses, coleslaw, potato salad, stuffed mini peppers and a small selection of fine wines.

TIP:~

Try their lovely fresh sandwiches with mouthwatering fillings made whilst you wait.

Chilli & Chives

10 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - George St, Hintlesham, Ipswich, IP8 3NH (map) & also in Lavenham market town.Phone:01473 652886

Open: 9.00 - 17.00 (Mon - Fri) Sat until 12am. Might close on a Wednesday afternoon.

Download the menus in pdf

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

Situated in the small 'through' village of Hintlesham enroute to Ipswich, Chilli & Chives is an unexpected find. There are no other shops in the village. This spacious, upmarket deli sells gourmet frozen food prepared by the talented Helen Bryce and her team. From fantastic fruit flans and chocolate puddings to beef bourguignon this is a must for when you want a decent pre-prepared supper. Also sells relishes, a range of quality kitchen kitsch/gifts and greeting cards.

TIP:~

On the way to or from Chilli & Chives, stop off for a cream tea at the majestic Hintlesham Hall.

St Nicolas Stores

25 minutes drive from our Suffolk holiday lettings - 7 St. Nicholas St, Ipswich, IP1 1TH (map) Telephone: 01473 225228‎

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

If you do go to Ipswich, this is worth a visit if you need Deli supplies. The cold counter is packed with lovely fresh goodies: stuffed peppers, cooked joint of beef for slicing, mozzarella, salads, mouth watering freshly made cakes. They stock olive oils and all the usual deli fare. Can cater for special diets to order - telephone first.

TIP:~

St Nicolas Store is in a very nice location with ye olde worlde buildings, cobbled streets and boutique shops situated in one of the oldest streets of Ipswich.

Jimmy's Farm Shop (of TV fame)

Within 30 minutes drive of our Suffolk holiday lettings. Pannington Hall Farm, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2AR (map) Phone: 01473 601770 Open: 7 days a week

Suffolk Character Cottages review:

Farm shop selling own produced rare breed pork and local products from the 'Tastes of Anglia Table' range. Piglets in pens are a sight to behold (makes it very hard to buy sausages in the shop afterwards). It's a working farm open for visitors 7 days a week. There's loads to do at the farm for a great family day out: Nature Trail, Woodland Walk, Beautiful Garden's, Farm Shop, Adventure Play Area and Field Kitchen. You can buy home reared free range pig produce, beef and lamb in the on site farm shop as well as an abundance of herbs and veggies.

TIP:~

The farm is very popular so beware on public holidays it can get very crowded. Don't let that put you off but just allow enough time.

The Suffolk Food Hall

Within 30 minutes drive of our Suffolk holiday lettings - Wherstead Hall, Peppers Lane, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2AB (map) Phone: 01473 786 610

Open: Mon – Sat 9am to 6pm, Sun & Public Hols 10.30am to 4.30pm

Suffolk Character Cottages Review:

Experience this unique adventure in this huge farm shippen building; shop, eat & drink while enjoying stunning views down the Orwell Estuary. Converted barns are home to a full Butcher’s shop, traditional Fishmonger, artisan Baker, Fruit & Veg stalls, Deli, Food Hall, Restaurant, Café and Garden Centre; all offering a wide range of local products. Specialities include home-reared Red Poll beef, rare breed pork, free-range poultry and a restaurant to showcase the best of Suffolk.

TIP:~

Visit Jimmy's Farm first and then do the rest of your food shopping at The Suffolk Food Hall.

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS

Lavenham: Village Hall - 4th Saturdays monthly 10am to 1pm - Contact: Justine Paul - Tel: 07704 627973

Long Melford: Village Hall - 3rd Saturday monthly - 10am to 1pm - Contact: Steve & Carrina Barker - Tel: 01440 786375 or 07810515505

Needham Market: Alder Carr Farm - 3rd Saturday monthly - 9am to 1pm - Contact: Tiffany Jones - Tel: 01449 720820

Sudbury: St Peter's, Market Hill - Last Friday monthly - 9.30am to 1pm - Contact: Ian Clark - Tel: 01787 372331

Bury St Edmunds: Wyken Vineyard, nr Stanton, north west of Bury

Every Saturday - 9am to 1pm.

PICK YOUR OWN FARMS (PYO)

Alder Carr Farm - Needham Market, Creeting St Mary Ipswich , Suffolk. IP6 8LX. Phone: 01449 720 820 Rhubarb, strawberries, gooseberries, broad and runner beans, raspberries, currants, tayberries, blackberries, sweetcorn. Pick your own fruit and vegetables, and fruit ice cream. All-year round operation.

Friday Street Farm Shop - Farnham, Saxmundham. Phone: 01728 602783. Long established farm shop with an excellent local reputation for good foods. Strawberries, Raspberries.

Goslings Farm Shop - Trimley St Martin, Ipswich (near Felixstowe off A14). Phone: 01394 273361.PYO offers: Blackberries, black/redcurrants, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, tayberries, beetroot, broad beans, courgettes, French beans, peas, runner beans, spinach, berries and vegetables.

Wheldons Pick Your Own - A variety of fruit in season. Newton Leys, Newton, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 0QE. Phone: 01787 374322.

 

For more food ideas see Foodies Days Out in Suffolk

 

 Enquire here or

call 0044 (0)1473 822620