O’MALLEY’S in Poyntzpass has been named in the Sunday Telegraph 'Britain's 20 Best Farm Shops', a list of the elite chosen from the UK's estimated 3,500 farm shops, all providing rural employment.
Managed by Colin and Lissa O’Malley, both of whom come from farming backgrounds, the shop has been operating since 2014, though the family has been farming the land for the past four generations, rearing beef cattle, sheep and growing barley.
In its citation, the Sunday Telegraph judges said: "This simple high street farm shop specialises in spuds grown on the O’Malley farm, plus other fruit and vegetables from the local area as well as a few imports.
"There’s meat from the farm via local award-winning butcher William Baird, as well as local Fivemiletown Creamery cheese, and a real community feel."
Lissa O'Malley said: "We're over the moon to the only Northern Ireland farm shop featured in this prestigious list."
Situated in the heart of Poyntzpass village, O'Malley's have been growing and producing potato varieties since 2005 which include Maris Pipers, Queens and Kerr’s Pink.
The quaint O’Malley’s Farm Shop provides Poyntzpass and the surrounding areas (and drop-in visitors from as far away as New Zealand, Australia and even Mexico) with home-grown potatoes, fresh fruit and vegetables, free range eggs, home-made salads, local bakeries, local butchers, locally sourced artisan products and much more from quality producers.
"We pride ourselves in serving fresh wholesome produce to the local community and providing a friendly service with a country charm to all our customers," Lissa added.
Milly Stokes, chairman of the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association, says the appeal of the farm shop is more than just a backlash against supermarkets, economy brands and economy with the truth.
“It’s the honesty and connection, and the short supply chain. A true farm shop has a relationship with the producer so that the customer can see where their food comes from,” she said.
