Norfolk produce promoted with new cooperative logo
Produced in Norfolk, the co-operative organisation, which promotes products unique to the county, introduced a new logo on 18 May. The launch took place at Caistor Hall Hotel near Norwich with more than 120 people in attendance, including many members of Produced in Norfolk as well as representatives from other organisations, which support the project. The new logo will be used on Produced in Norfolk members' products, providing a branding which will assure buyers that such products are genuinely made in Norfolk, providing support for the local economy and encouraging tourism. Each Produced in Norfolk member is carefully vetted, ensuring that they meet the strict membership criteria. Produced in Norfolk (PiN) is a not-for-profit producers' cooperative, founded in 2005 and is open to companies and individuals who make food and craft products in Norfolk. Its 80-plus membership features a diversity of products, including bird seed, pottery, cheeses, mustard and fine art as well as honey, cider, beer, bacon and a host of other goods, some traditional to Norfolk, others bringing new skills to the local community. Delegates heard presentations from defra, the government department which is providing 50% of the funding for Produced in Norfolk, HSBC bank, Shaping the future and The Guild, a Norfolk based organisation that is a leading provider of consultancy and training services to the voluntary and community sector and social enterprises. Introduced by PiN's Chair, Jane Taylor, representatives from these organisations all confirmed their support for the project while expressing confidence in its continued success. Michael Mack from defra echoed the sentiments of others when he said, "defra, through its Rural Enterprise Scheme is proud to support Produced in Norfolk, a project which will prove important to the county and its economy. The hard work of its management team in pursuing the aims of the scheme will, I am sure, guarantee its success." Speaking for one of Norfolk's top tourist attractions, Fairhaven Trust's Louise Rout commented, "A major part of Fairhaven's success over the past 30 years reflects our desire to work with the local community. As soon as we heard of Produced in Norfolk we jumped at the chance to be involved." James Spedding, a North Norfolk blacksmith went on to explain his reasons for joining Produced in Norfolk: "Norfolk has a sense of community which I've yet to see matched anywhere else in the country," he said. "Produced in Norfolk reflects that culture, giving local businesses a chance to work together and provide networking support for each other." Chairman of Shaping the Future Jonathon Barclay, spoke of the importance of the Norfolk 'brand' and the county's infrastructure: "The rural economy is key to the success of Norfolk as a whole. We are intent on raising the profile of the county both nationally and internationally and I'm sure that Produced in Norfolk can contribute to that aim." Following the presentations, delegates were invited to enjoy a lunch, made almost entirely from local produce, most of which came from Produced in Norfolk members. A range of locally produced cheeses, meats, bread, eggs, pickles and honey was complemented by Norfolk apple juice, wine and beer, while afterwards delegates were given the opportunity to sample Marco's Ices ice cream and take away with them a stick of Candagrove Ltd's specially produced rock, made from locally grown sugar beet and bearing the Produced in Norfolk legend throughout its length! With over 80 members, defra backing and a carefully considered co-operative structure in place, the Produced in Norfolk project is already a force to be reckoned with. In three years time, it is expected that membership will have risen to around 250 and the benefits for Norfolk's economy and community will be enormous.

KIDZ CORNER Okay, all you children aged 1 - 12 years, this column is for you.  Enter the competition(s) and you may win a prize. Pronounced as one letter but written with three, only two different letters are used to make me.  I'm double, I'm single, I'm black, blue and grey, I'm read from both ends and the same either way.

The class were asked to write an essay about the funniest thing they had ever heard. Mark sat sucking his pen for a while. Then he put it down without writing a single word. At the end of the time the teacher picked up Mark's blank piece of paper and asked him to explain.  Mark Said, " Miss, the funniest thing I ever heard was too funny for words !"