Coombe Farm Organic in Crewkerne won coveted 3-star, 2-star and 1-star awards at this year’s Great Taste Awards putting them in the top 1.5 per cent of more than 14,000 entries.

Jemima Marks, sales and marketing manager at Coombe Farm Organic, said: “Our head to hoof philosophy is all about eating less meat, buying the best quality you can and making the most of all the animal that has been carefully reared to high welfare standards.

"With increasing awareness of agroecology and regenerative farming techniques, we’re proud to have been farming the old-fashioned way and been organic for more than twenty years.

"It’s all about closing the loop and making the most of every aspect of what’s on our farm. There’s more diversity of insects, animals, and plants because we don’t use artificial herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers.

"The soil quality is enhanced because of the way we farm, and the animals fertilise the fields they graze.

"This year’s Soil Association Organic September campaign is all about nature having the answer – and that’s what we believe in too.

We can’t wait to celebrate being awarded so many stars by the Great Taste judges.”

This year there were 14,113 entries with 218 products awarded a 3-star, 1,138 a 2-star and 4,027 a 1-star accolade.

Head shepherd at Coombe Farm Organic, Phoebe Atkinson, said: “Originally our organic flock grazed our solar panel fields and pastures as part of our sustainable farm.

"We’ve diversified and increased our flock, working closely with our in-house butchery team to develop our organic grass-fed lamb and mutton range.

"Being a shepherd is a challenging career and it is so rewarding for all our organic principles and delicious cuts to be recognised by the Great Taste 2021 judges.”

Earlier this year Coombe Farm Organic scooped the Soil Association BOOM Award for its organic meat box scheme and also won seven coveted Gold awards at the Taste of the West Awards.

Set up as a form of diversification in 2015, both the organic farm and online butchery are Soil Association certified.

For their latest recipes and award-winning organic products visit www.coombefarmorganic.co.uk

JUDGES COMMENTS

The farm's Organic Leg of Lamb on the Bone won the elite 3-star Great Taste award.

The judges said: “What a stunning and handsome leg of lamb. Faultless. The skin is crisp and brown, the meat tender and easily sliced. Moist, succulent and juicy. The meat around the shank end is full of savoury umami within the tenderest of muscle. The flavour of this lamb is full of grass, the maturity couldn't be better. The butchering is clean and exact. We're actually quite speechless at this utter perfection. Nothing is wrong with it. We can't criticise a thing. It's a winner.”

“Gloriously tender meat with perfect texture. The meat around the shank end of the bone was succulent and sticky. Good flavour, as much as we'd expect from lamb, subtle but grassy. The skin has caramelised well, and the meat looks great, the grain, the colour - clearly well reared.”

“Stunning joint of lamb, Clean bone, neatly prepared with a deliciously golden skin. Rich meaty flavour, buttery fat. Perfectly pink in the middle. Tender. It's clear that a lot of care has gone into the preparation of this leg, and it definitely delivers in taste. Wonderful.”

Their whole organic duck won a 2-star Great Taste award.

The judges said: “What a beautifully presented duck, rich, golden and accompanied by a truly wonderful oven roasted aroma. The meat cuts perfectly well, and the mouthfeel is bang on the money, and almost confit like. The delicate and natural game flavour notes are superb, with delicate flavour notes from the fats just beneath the perfectly cooked skin. The balance of flavours is divine.”

Their organic rib of beef on the bone won a 1-star award.

The judges said: “An attractive whole rib of beef on the bone with good caramelisation…The texture was tender, moist, juicy and easy to carve.”