Market has been given the title of best Farmers' Market in Devon.

In addition, two producers won top awards and three more were finalists.

The certificates were on show at November's Saturday market at Crediton. Redhill Farm were best drinks producer/product of the year and Welland Down Farm won the title of best butcher/meat producer of the year.

Also at the Devon Life Food and Drink Awards evening in November, Linscombe Farm was a finalist as the best food producer of the year, Sandford Orchards a finalist in best drinks producer/product of the year, and Bread of Devon was a finalist as best baker/confectioner of the year.

Crediton Farmers' Market chairman Simon O'Sullivan congratulated all the traders for contributing to the overall award.

The November market coincided with National Sausage Week and stallholders provided sausages for tastings, cooked by Margaret Phillips of Sandford Women's Institute and Sam Butler who is at at Cannington College for Land-Based Studies.

Margaret said the morning had been "great fun" and Sam added that it had been "wonderful" with an excellent response and lots of interest in the local sausages.

There had been quite a bit of interest, too, in the squirrel meat offered by Brian Stanbury of S B Stanbury, game dealers of Tedburn St Mary.

"We had read that there was a lot of interest in squirrel and we have sold six so far," said Brian at mid-morning.

"These are local squirrels and the meat can be used in pies, pasties or sausages. We know someone whose son had squirrel canapes at his wedding.

"Squirrel is said to be one of the most natural foods because they eat nuts and berries," said Brian.

One of the new stalls at Crediton are Rosie and Martin Butler of Caprine Capers with their amazing hand made chocolates created using goats' milk.

Rosie and Martin farm near Torrington and have a small herd of milking goats. With the surplus milk they began producing cream, butter and, eventually, sweets for their own enjoyment.

"We began getting compliments about the chocolates and it has just flowed from there," said Rosie.

"They are gluten free, there are no nuts, no added sugar, only natural flavourings and are good for people who have an intolerance to cows' milk," she added.

The chocolate truffles include raspberry, rum, whisky, Grand Marnier, ginger, and vanilla. Rosie and Martin were delighted to have won a silver award at this year's Taste of the West Awards.

Celebrating their "outstanding" Ofsted report this year, Pippins Pre-School had a small stall at the market and are offering free registration to the end of term.

Children visiting the stand made shapes with the play dough and received a balloon while adults were given a copy of the Ofsted report and could ask questions.

Hazel Hodge, manager, and Michelle Dymond, pre-school assistant and clerical assistant, added that anyone who wanted to know more could have a free trial session.

Pippins meet at Crediton Methodist Church Hall on Union Road every day between 9.15-3.15 during term time. They are registered for six year old children.

Roger and Dodie Huxter of Welland Down Farm near Kennerleigh were most pleased to have won the title of best butcher/meat producer of the year in the Devon Life Food and Drink Awards.

They produce Red Ruby Devon beef and the South Ham Lamb, create various ready meals, pies, pasties as well as the various joints or sausages.

Last year they were finalists in the competition. Dodie thanked everyone for their votes. Their produce is available at Crediton, Tiverton and Exeter markets as well as five other markets in Somerset.

Wonderful soft fleeces are available on their stand as well as yarn for knitting in natural colours of four ply or double knitting.

Andrew Harvey of Redhill Farm greeted the award with "absolute delight because this year is the 25th anniversary of planting our first apple trees and the creation of a new orchard."

He said they were looking at putting in solar panels and hoped to recycle their glass bottles using solar energy, so people would be able to return empty bottles at the market without any extra fuel used for the trip.

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