Devon’s Darts Farm is celebrating a double victory after after winning both Large Farm Shop of the Year and Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year at last month’s Farm Retail Association (FRA) awards.
The gala was held at the Eastside Rooms on 12th March, with Darts sharing the spotlight with Castle Farm in Kent, awarded the title of Small Farm Shop of the Year. The awards ceremony marked the culmination of the annual FRA conference, bringing together farm retailers from across the UK for a schedule of lectures, workshops, an AGM, and farm shop tours.
Founded by Ronald Dart in 1971 as a pick-your-own business, Darts Farm has since evolved into a destination on the outskirts of Exeter. In 1982, his three sons took over, expanding it into a farm shop, three restaurants, a café, a food-to-go shack, and a bar. Its main restaurant, The Farm Table, which won the award, uses seasonal produce either grown on-site or sourced locally and sold in the shop.
Celebrating the news, Darts Farm published a statement on its website, saying: “These awards celebrate the very best in UK farm retail, recognising those who champion local food, support local economies, and forge meaningful connections with their communities and landscapes. This is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication. We couldn’t be prouder.”
Castle Farm, meanwhile, is a 1,200-acre mixed crop farm and the UK’s largest lavender farm, whose retail outlet, The Hop Shop, opened in 1985. It sells dried flowers, the farm’s own beef, apples and apple juice, as well as local produce. Reacting to its victory, it said: “We are honoured to have been chosen among so many fantastic farm shops.”
It added: “The Farm Retail Awards are judged by fellow farm retailers, making this recognition even more meaningful.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Jo Mounce, founder of Strawberry Fields, which won Large Farm Shop of the Year in 2023.
Jo and her husband Roger Mounce established the business in Lifton, Devon, in 1991, first as a pick-your-own business before opening Lifton Farm Shop in 2002. Renamed Strawberry Fields in 2023, the shop champions homegrown produce and family recipes. Since Jo has stepped back from the day-to-day operations, these are managed by her son Adam and his wife, Laura.
This article first appeared in the April 2025 issue of Fine Food Digest.
