Mercer Farming - Packington PorkRob MercerA PIG farming business headed to the Houses of Parliament to showcase the ‘best of the best’ food in East Staffordshire.
Barton Under Needwood based Packington Free Range, which specialises in pork and poultry, descended on London yesterday to take part in a special festival to represent the top food and drink in the area.
Brothers Rob and Alec Mercer were invited to take part in the event to raise awareness of East Staffordshire’s produce to other Members of Parliament from across the country.
The event was the brainchild of Tamworth MP Christopher Pincher along with Burton MP Andrew Griffiths and Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant.
Alec Mercer, co-owner of Packington Free Range, said: “It was an exciting opportunity for us to meet up with MPs in the Houses of Parliament and showcase our produce in a fantastic venue.
“We are honoured to have been selected to attend this event which is very important for Staffordshire food and drink and will hopefully put us on the map.”
The event was also be attended by Heart of England and Simply Staffordshire who gave talks on how to help producers expand and grow into new territory.
Mr Pincher said: “The festival was designed to raise awareness and showcase the best of local Staffordshire products.
“We had a large turn-out as we invited every MP from the Prime Minister down to help promote the fine produces we have on our door step to a nationwide audience.
“We wanted to give our local producers nationwide recognition.”
Packington Free Range began life in 1922 in Harleston and has always been run by the Mercer family.
It was originally involved in all aspects of farming from pedigree pigs for breeding to cereal crops before narrowing its vision to just chickens and pigs.
It was started by Percy Mercer but the reigns were handed down to Alec, Roger before brother Rob and Alec took on the mammoth task.
The firm now supplies 130 butchers.
