Farmers
To find out more
about EQM, visit
www.peakdistrict.org
and click information
for businesses. |
| QUALITY SYSTEMS |
 How do we ensure that High Peak Lamb is always good quality and always delicious?
There are two accreditation systems in place which farms must meet the standards of, in order to supply High Peak Lamb.
EQM
The Peak District Environmental Quality Mark, or EQM is a certification mark that can only be achieved by businesses that actively support the best environmental practices in the Peak District.
All the farms that supply High Peak Lamb, are currently working towards meeting the standards of EQM.
When you buy High Peak Lamb, you can be confident that your purchase directly supports the high quality management of the special environment of the Peak District National Park, including:
- Conservation of special and characteristic features, e.g. wildflower meadows, special habitats, dry stone walls and traditional buildings
- Use of locally grown and produced products and services from with the National Park
- Use of environmentally friendly products
- Efficient use of energy and water resources
- Minimisation of waste by reducing, re-using and recycling
- Provision of environmental information
Why does EQM affect High Peak Lamb?
Well, we think that farmers who demonstrate care for the environment are also demonstrating their commitment to good animal care. For Mettrick's, it is a way of independently measuring the quality of the farming which we know is right for us - after all, we have been buying these lambs for generations.
However, there is even more to knowing which lambs will make delicious meat - and that is where our next quality system come in. |
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Farmers
To find out more about High Peak Lamb quality scheme, speak to John Mettrick on 01457 852 239. |
The High Peak Lamb Quality Scheme
The wider High Peak Lamb quality scheme is used as a means by which we can assess the environmental, animal welfare and production practices of the farmers who supply our lambs and demonstrate the integrity of the supply chain.
Individual lambs are assessed for:
- optimum weight: ensuring they are a reasonable size for joints and chops
- fat content and conformation: we want the meat to be lean and not over-fat
- care and presentation at point of sale
- feeding regimes (including source of feeds)
- maturation times and age: all of which ensure the best possible animal care
The lambs are processed under the independent supervision of the Meat Hygiene Service. This means the lambs which come to us are checked by an official veterinary surgeon and again, after processing, by a Meat Inspector who applies an identification mark.
All J W Mettrick & Son Ltd staff have the necessary statutory hygiene qualifications.
All the farms that supply High Peak Lamb, are currently working towards meeting the standards of the High Peak Lamb quality scheme.
Your guarantee of High Peak Lamb standards is in the branding that you can see - all produce processed by ourselves under the High Peak Lamb scheme will be branded right through to retail point of sale, whoever you buy it from.
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01457 852 239 
