Kent Food Retailer of the Year Finalist: Lower Ladysden Farm

Lower Ladysden Farm - Our farm shop is forever stocked with delicious local produce sourced from the very best! You will find a huge variety of products from everyday essentials to that special weekend treat, not to mention all of our own freshly-picked produce, homemade jams and juices. We absolutely love the brands we stock and they really do deserve to have a place in everyone’s kitchens!

In 2021 we launched our Loyalty Scheme, with one penny from every pound spent in the shop by members going to the Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. We have more than 700 members and are growing!

We are also members of the ‘Too good to go’ scheme. This brilliant service allows us to cut down on our food waste by allowing customers to buy food that is close to the end of its life but still perfectly good to eat at a discounted price. The Kember family have been farming at Lower Ladysden Farm since 1976, originally growing hops, apples and pears. In 2010 we planted our first crops of strawberries and raspberries, which led to the start of our pick-your-own operation.

As the PYO grew and we were able to offer more products, the need for a dedicated farm shop arose and in June 2019 we opened the doors of our farm shop.

This allowed us to stock a range of quality products to complement our own seasonal produce.

After being only open for a few months we were faced with the challenges of lockdown in March 2020. Working closely with local suppliers we were able to supply fresh produce and essentials to the local community by rapidly setting up a click-and-collect and local delivery service.

What sets us apart is the connection our customers can have with the produce we sell. Much of it can be seen growing, being harvested and prepared on the farm. Much of the produce we grow is also used in products in the shop such as jams and juices and used in our café.