| Father Christmas update | Date Posted: 14.12.2011 |
| Father Christmas and The Pocklington Rotary Club raised £83.72p on Saturday 10th December when they visited the Balloon Tree. This money will be divided between Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Martin House Hospice. The Pocklington Rotary Club very kindly donated gifts to all the children on the day. Thank you to everyone involved. Merry Christmas and a happy new year! |
|
| Sloe Gin competition update | Date Posted: 14.12.2011 |
| We'd like to thank everyone who took part in the Sloe Gin competition. The entries were of a very high standard and we were overwhelmed by the number of entries. A poster announcing the winners and runners up is in the farmshop. Well done everyone involved. |
|
| Customer rewards! | Date Posted: 12.09.2011 |
| We have introduced a new loyalty card in the farmshop to reward our customers. You will receive a loyalty card when you spend over £15 in the farmshop, after 10 shops you get 20% off your shopping, with a load of freebies along the way. |
|
| New Kune Kune pigs in the animal field | Date Posted: 12.09.2011 |
| We have some new arrivals to the animal field - 3 very cute Kune Kune pigs. They join Snorkel and Wallace - our pygmy goats and the friendly hens. Bags of feed can be purchased from the farmshop! |
|
| Balloon Tree Farm Shop goes nuts! | Date Posted: 12.09.2011 |
| Our first crop of HAZELNUTS is ready after 7 years in the making! After seven years of waiting The Balloon Tree Farmshop has its first ever crop of hazelnuts! Traditionally grown in the South we thought we would have a go and grow these little gems ourselves. Since they were planted in 2005, they have shown little sign of cropping, until now – 7 years later. And now we have an abundance of them! Hazelnuts can be used in a variety of dishes or simply eaten straight out of the shell. We will have our homegrown hazelnuts on sale in the farmshop until the season finishes in approx 6 weeks time. A little bit of further info on hazelnuts….Children played an early version of "conkers" with hazelnuts; the game was called cobnut, and the winning nut the cob. A Cobnut is a type of hazelnut. Man enjoyed wild hazelnuts from time immemorial, and cultivated hazels, sometimes known as filberts, have been grown in Britain since the 16th century. Cobnuts are marketed fresh, not dried like most other nuts such as walnuts. The season is short from September to October. When the husks are green the kernels are particularly juicy. |
|
| Yummy ice cream - new range | Date Posted: 27.06.2011 |
| We are very excited about our brand new range of delicious Brymor's ice cream - we have 10 flavours to choose from. Available in waffle cones or in tubs. And perfect to accompany our superfresh strawberries! Located deep in the Yorkshire Dales down at High Jervaulx Farm, Brymor’s delicious ice cream is produced using only milk from the herd of pedigree Guernsey cows that graze the lush pastures, so the flavour really is unique. |
|
| Summer Superfresh fruit and veg | Date Posted: 20.06.2011 |
| We are in full swing with our homegrown superfresh fruit and vegetables coming off the farm. The Pick Your Own trail is open - with a wide range of juicy fruits: strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries and delicious peas and beans. We also have our freshly dug new potatoes harvested daily. Along with lettuces, rhubarb and lots more. We have some new lines in the shop - we are now stocking tofu and halloumi, as well as Ramans hand made relish and Smithy’s soufflés. |
|
| Award winner - “Best Retailer of Regional Products 2010-2011” at the deliciouslyorkshire awards! | Date Posted: 30.11.2010 |
| We are very proud to announce that we won the award for “Best Retailer of Regional Products” at the sixth annual deliciouslyorkshire Awards, announced at the ceremony at Rudding Park, Harrogate. The judges of this award, sponsored by Fine Food Digest, decided that The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café was the best retailer of regional products following a record breaking 450 entries earlier this year. The awards celebrate the elite of the region’s food and drink industry, showcasing fantastic local produce and commending the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals from Yorkshire and Humber. deliciouslyorkshire’s chief executive, Jonathan Knight, commented: “A big congratulations to all of our winners and the shortlisted businesses for 2010. The standard of entries for the awards gets progressively higher year on year. It’s very encouraging to see businesses in the food, drink and hospitality sector going from strength to strength, especially in the current economic climate. |
|
| Gold for The Balloon Tree! | Date Posted: 19.08.2010 |
| Phyllis Thompson, the in-house baker at The Balloon Tree Farmshop, has been awarded a GOLD Great Taste Award for her home baked ‘Date, Walnut and Honey Cake’. ‘Every food that carries the Great Taste Awards’ logo has been granted a unique seal of approval. It has been independently benchmarked and achieving Gold really is as good as it gets in speciality food and drink. What separates a truly exquisite food from an acceptable food certainly isn’t its packaging, or marketing, or a promotional budget with the clout to persuade millions of consumers it’s good. The proof of the pudding, quite literally, remains in the eating.’ - Guild of Fine Food Retailers Over 6025 entries were subjected to rigorous judging by teams of experts that include chefs, critics, food retailers, writers and buyers. Phyllis has been making cakes for the shop and the sweet trolley in the cafe (which has got quite a name for itself) since The Balloon Tree opened in 2004 and has been awarded 4 Great Taste Awards for her homebaked cakes over the years. She has a real talent for baking, so much so the bakery was set up at The Balloon Tree to accommodate her talent and passion. The Balloon Tree Farmshop and café are very proud to have 8 Great Taste Awards under their belt – ranging from homemade cakes to soups and chutneys. All the homemade products are available to buy in the Farmshop. The Great Taste Awards are the most prestigious gourmet food awards in the UK, possibly, the world. Organised by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, the Awards have carved a reputation over the last decade as the acknowledged accreditation for all speciality food and drink. |
|
| Stawberries are now ready! | Date Posted: 10.06.2010 |
| Its a sure sign summer is hear when its PYO time at The Balloon Tree - we have PYO and ready picked strawberries available now. If you are coming from a distance it may want to phone to check the availability on 01759 373023. And there is about 3 weeks left of our super fresh homegrown Yorkshire asparagus - make the most of it while it lasts! |
|
| Balloon race raises funds for York Guardian Angels charity | Date Posted: 10.06.2010 |
| THE sky turned green when 225 balloons were released in a race to raise money towards the development of a children’s high dependency care unit at York Hospital. With the help of youngsters from Stamford Bridge Primary School, The Balloon Tree Farmshop, at Gate Helmsley, enlisted supporters to sell 225 balloons at £1.50 a go to raise funds for York Guardian Angels charity, The event was to boost the coffers of the unit which enables more children to be treated in York rather than being transferred to Leeds or elsewhere. The balloons carried tags with the senders’ names on and there are prizes for the winner of the race and the children who sold the most balloons, including a family pass to York Maze and ten tickets to York’s Most Haunted visitor attraction. The event raised more than £300. Article from The Press, Wednesday 2nd June 2010 |
|
| Rachel Swales Sponsored Walk - 18th April 2010, in aid of the neuro ward for children at Leeds General Infirmary | Date Posted: 08.04.2010 |
| When we heard Rachel's story we were compelled to get involved in some way. Rachel Swales was given a 50/50 chance of surviving a deadly brain infection and has made a recovery that has been described as being “unbelievable”. In appreciation for the amazing work done by all the staff who helped Rachel and her family through such a very difficult time at the Ward 48, Leeds General Infirmary, the family in conjunction with The Balloon Tree Farmshop have organised a sponsored walk to raise funds to support the neuro ward for children where she spent much of her recovery time. We are inviting as many people as possible to walk with Rachel on the sponsored walk. The walk is on Sunday, 18 April, meeting at the picnic area at the car park in Stamford Bridge at 1.30pm, before heading to The Balloon Tree Farm Shop at Gate Helmsley where a well earned piece of homemade cake and cup of tea can be enjoyed. Everyone taking part is being asked to wear green clothes - Rachel’s favourite colour. Sponsor forms can be requested from Dawn Swales on 07736 926244, or people can donate by logging onto donate online at www.justgiving.com/rachels-walk Please contact Janey for more information – janey@theballoontree.co.uk There is also a video link below showing Rachels story: http://video214.com/play/4owGqDY8771DYeu1EGCxuQ/s/dark |
|
| Free entry into our Easter Egg Hunt! | Date Posted: 10.03.2010 |
| All ages welcome at our Easter Egg Hunt, on 2nd, 3rd & 4th April, 10am - 4pm. And this year its free entry into the Easter egg hunt! • Easter Egg Hunt around the farm • Feed the lambs & farm animals • See our Easter bunny • Egg decorating & more fun activities! |
|
| Spoil your mum this Mothers Day at The Balloon Tree | Date Posted: 01.03.2010 |
| Spoil your mum this Mothers Day (March 14th) with our special set menu in the Cafe - including a free bottle of wine for all mums! Click on the homepage or call into the shop to see the set menu - £12.95 for 2 courses, £16.95 for 3 courses. Please book to avoid dissapointment - call 01759 373 023. Lots of great gift ideas for mum too: Organic hand made soaps & smellies by Heyland and Whittle, Choice of freshly cut bouquets & plants (Call to pre-order a beautifully wrapped bouquet on 01759 373 023), Seasonal hampers made to your specification, Delish choice of chocolates! |
|
| Free Tea and Coffee | Date Posted: 09.02.2010 |
| We are offering our customers a free cup of tea or traditional coffee weekday mornings up until 11.30am, with every £5 spent in the farmshop or cafe. Enjoy! (offer lasts until the end of March 2010). |
|
| Santa's Grotto | Date Posted: 26.11.2009 |
| Father Christmas’s Woodland Grotto at The Balloon Tree Farmshop Father Christmas and his helpers will be flying to The Balloon Tree on 5th & 6th Dec, 12th & 13th Dec, 19th – 24th Dec. 11–1pm, 2–4pm (Xmas Eve 11-1) • Have fun decorating your own Christmas treat • ‘Pick Your Own’ healthy Christmas dinner veg • Receive traditional stocking gifts • Write and post a letter to Father Christmas • Bring your camera & have a photo taken with Father Christmas • And lots more festive fun and games! Please book to avoid disappointment. Call his helper, Diane, on 07976 475435. |
|
| Festive Weekend Update | Date Posted: 26.11.2009 |
| Our weekend of festive tastes went really well - thank you to all who came and sampled the delights on offer, and to our lovely local suppliers who took the time to man their stalls for the weekend giving out all sorts of handy tips and product information - not to mention free tasters. We hope you enjoyed it and its set you up for the Christmas mood and given you lots of inspiring ideas for gifts and treats this Christmas. |
|
| Innovation at the heart of The Balloon Tree | Date Posted: 12.11.2009 |
| We are thrilled to have won the exciting award for 'Innovation' at the fifth annual deliciouslyorkshire Awards, announced at the ceremony at Rudding Park, Harrogate on 9 November. The judges of this award, decided that The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café was, ‘a truly innovative business; a small company with a total business system in place.’ We pride ourselves on our innovative processes, and believe they are the reason for our successful growth. We strive to find the most efficient and effective ways to improve each section of our business, and we are delighted to be recognised by deliciouslyorkshire with this prestigious award. We have devised our own programmes and systems. These include a crop viability study, automated payroll and detailed analysis, a home-engineered asparagus and strawberry harvesting machine, bespoke spraying equipment and automated irrigation systems. Well done to everybody involved to make this award possible - it is fantastic to be recognised as an innovative business and we will strive to keep doing so. |
|
| Bonfire night went off with a bang! | Date Posted: 09.11.2009 |
| Thank you to all who came to our first ever bonfire night! Despite the little bit of rain we had, there was a fantastic turn out and everything went smoothly. The torch lit procession from Stamford Bridge, lead by the brass band, was a great way to kick the proceedings off - thank you to all those who took part. The food stalls offered a great range of delicious homemade traditional bonfire food and mulled wine, while Diane and her team had lots of fun games such as apple bobbing and pumpkin skittles to entertain the children before the fireworks. A "guy fawkes" clad Digby took delight in entertaining the crowd before lighting the huge bonfire. The fireworks went off with a real bang and we were really pleased to hear all the positive feedback from everyone as they left. If you would like to comment on any aspect of the night please leave a comment via our website or pop into the shop. We are already thinking about next year and how we can make it even bigger and better! |
|
| Pumpkins Galore | Date Posted: 13.10.2009 |
| We've got loads of sizes of pumpkins to choose from - perfect for carving! And loads of homegrown culinary pumpkins for those autumn warmers - perfect for pumpkin soup. And don't forget the Children's Halloween Event held 28th - 31st Oct for lots of spooky entertainment. |
|
| The Balloon Tree Bonfire Night! | Date Posted: 24.09.2009 |
| We are holding our 1st bonfire night this year - bring all your family and friends to join in the fun. Friday 6th November Torch lit procession to The Balloon Tree Farmshop – Meet at Stamford Bridge car park at 6pm Bonfire lit at 6.45pm Fireworks display to music at 8.00pm Doors open 5pm - Food & drink served until 9.30pm Join in the fun & games! Brass band, music, bar & hot traditional bonfire food Purchase tickets from The Balloon Tree Farmshop - Tickets must be bought in advance, no tickets available on the night. Tickets: Children £3.50, Adult £7 We are on Bus Route No.10. Limited parking at The Balloon Tree on the night. Alternative parking in Stamford Bridge & the surrounding area. |
|
| The Witch's Couldron Children's Halloween Event | Date Posted: 24.09.2009 |
| 28th - 31st October, 11 - 4pm £6.50 per child - includes a pumpkin! • Visit Wizelda the witch to make a spell, if you dare! • Loads of pumpkins to choose from • Pumpkin ten pin bowling & more ghostly games • Make a spooky mask • Prizes for best fancy dress • Kid’s spooky halloween menu Special fancy dress competition on Saturday 31st October at 2pm - prizes to be won! Book to avoid disappointment - call Diane on 07976 475435. Group bookings possible The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe Stamford Bridge Road (A166), Gate Helmsley, York, YO41 1NB www.theballoontree.co.uk |
|
| Charity Balloon Race to take place at The Balloon Tree | Date Posted: 04.08.2009 |
| We are very excited to be holding our first 'Balloon Race' in aid of The Guardian Angels Charity. It will take place on Monday 31st August ‘09, with a 3pm lift off. In order to help us organize the day, please post or bring your entry forms and donations to the Balloon Tree Farmshop by 27th August ‘09. All entries must be in by 12.30pm on the day. To enter the race pop into the shop and buy a balloon there and then. Alternatively pick up an entry form from The Balloon Tree Farmshop or download from our website. There will be a BBQ, bouncy castle & games on the day! Prizes for the most balloons sold & the winner of the race! To find out more about Guardian Angels please visit www.guardianangelsyork.org.uk The Guardian Angels Charity aims to raise money to develop Children’s High Dependency Care for sick children at York Hospital. Charity No. 1127161. |
|
| Yorkshire Day Tasters - 1st August '09 | Date Posted: 30.07.2009 |
| Come and celebrate Yorkshire Day at The Balloon Tree on 1st August sampling some of the best local produce available in the farm shop. We have several of our suppliers offering tasting sessions on the day: Bruce Oliver Cheese Mr Moos Ice cream Yorkshire Outdoor Pork Sloe Motion Gin and Vodka We hope you enjoy the tasters - its a real celebration of all the delicious produce that comes from Yorkshire and we are pleased to support these local producers. Our motto sums this up perfectly... 'Fewer food miles - more farm yards!' |
|
| Children's school holidays entertainment taken care of... | Date Posted: 21.07.2009 |
| ...with the new 'Farm Forage' at The Balloon Tree. Take a tour of the farm, answering the quiz as you go and looking out for the bonus questions. A fun way to learn about the farm and see some of the fruit and vegetables we grow. £2.50 - Includes a Chilly Billy natural fruit ice lolly on completion and a surprise! Just ask in the shop or the cafe to get started. |
|
| Summer Evening Menu - We are open late at the weekends! | Date Posted: 21.07.2009 |
| The Balloon Tree Cafe will now be serving homemade meals until 7.45pm Friday - Sunday over the summer months. The Farmshop will also be open late (until approx 8pm) Friday - Sunday for your convenience - no more rushing to catch closing time! We hope you enjoy the summer evenings in the cafe garden with a chilled glass of wine and a yummy homemade meal making the most of the seasonal produce. |
|
| 'Family Fun Day' at The Balloon Tree - 16th August '09 | Date Posted: 21.07.2009 |
| The Balloon Tree is proud to sponsor the Myasthenia Gravis charity Family Fun Day (to be held at The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe) on Sunday 16th August ‘09 2.30 - 7.00pm Ticket: £2.50 (Ticket entitles you to one Free Strawberries & Cream) Tickets can be purchased from The Balloon Tree Farmshop • Barbecue (Locally sourced rare breed meat & homegrown superfresh salads) • Bouncy Castle • Hook a Duck • Face Painting • Tombola Prizes This is a fundraising event for the Myasthenia Gravis charity to supply vital equipment for York District Hospital Neurological department, to help people suffering from Myasthenia Gravis and other neurological illnesses. For more information, to donate a tombola prize or for tickets call Ron Middlemass on 01904 679939 / 07715 943 406 or email ron.middlemass@o2.co.uk We hope to see you there. |
|
| PYO in full swing | Date Posted: 21.07.2009 |
| All our PYO crops are ready and have grown in abundance so far this summer. Please be sure to phone to check the availability of the crop to be sure they are ready for picking when you are planning to visit us. This gives you an idea of when the fruit will be available until... PYO Strawberries & Ready Picked Ready now – end of August PYO Raspberries & Ready Picked Ready end of June – mid August PYO Gooseberries Ready now – beg of July PYO Currants (Red, Black & White) Ready beg of July – beg of August PYO Peas Ready now – end of July PYO Broad Beans Ready end of June – end of July |
|
| PYO strawberries | Date Posted: 03.06.2009 |
| We started the PYO strawberries on Saturday 30th May. They are coming on but you have to come early to pick them as they are not yet in full flow. To avoid disappointment please phone 01759 373 023 to check availability. |
|
| Money Really Does Grow on Trees! | Date Posted: 03.06.2009 |
| We have pleasure in introducing an innovative and exciting new loyalty scheme called “The Money Tree” now up and running in the shop. The concept is simple – simply bring your receipts in the week after doing your shopping and if the number is displayed on the money tree, you can claim the amount on the receipt. You can either knock it off your current shopping trolley, or receive gift vouchers. Matthew Machin, a director at the Balloon Tree family business said “We really wanted to do something different, exciting and rewarding for Balloon Tree customers. We felt that the usual store card schemes or promotions were a bit boring – doing the money tree is a way where the customers can enjoy looking forward to winning and being rewarded for their loyalty.” |
|
| Shiptonthorpe Balloon Tree Now Open | Date Posted: 15.05.2009 |
| Our much improved site at Shiptonthorpe is now open. We've kept the simple concept of high quality, home grown and local fruit and veg, but have expanded the range available since last year, as well as tidying the site up - hopefully making your experience more enjoyable. We still have PYO on site and offer table top strawberries too - these should be ready in June. Please phone 01759 373 023 to check availability. You will find us just off the roundabout (A1079 / A614) between Pocklington and Market Weighton. |
|
| Homegrown Purple Sprouting Broccoli | Date Posted: 24.04.2009 |
| Our homegrown Purple Sprouting Broccoli should be available until mid May. Make the most of it while stocks last! (Please phone to check availability). |
|
| The Money Tree - Coming Soon | Date Posted: 24.04.2009 |
| We thought our customers deserved a unique, exciting and fun way of rewarding loyalty. The concept is simple – keep your receipt, return the following week to see if your receipt number is on ‘The Money Tree’ – if it is, we’ll give you the amount on your receipt! You can choose to knock it off your current shopping trolley, or receive gift vouchers. Keep your eye out for ‘The Money Tree’ in the shop over the coming weeks. |
|
| Superfresh Asparagus Ready Now | Date Posted: 24.04.2009 |
| Our superfresh homegrown asparagus is now available in the farmshop and at our Shiptonthorpe site. The first spears actually came on the 24th March 09 – the earliest ever recorded in the region. (Please phone to check availability if you are coming a distance to avoid disapointment). We expect the season to last the usual 6 - 8 weeks (through to mid July). The bundles will be graded for your convenience. We will also have 'misshapes' available to buy – perfect for making soup. Keep an eye out for the homemade asparagus soups available to buy in the farmshop and the homemade asparagus specials in the cafe. The Balloon Tree very sandy soil type, which the asparagus crop thrives on, being a mediterranean crop, is ideal. The quality and taste of the yield benefit tremendously from this. Asparagus is renowned for losing its flavour and nutrients the older it is. Therefore we make sure that the asparagus is picked fresh every morning to ensure a fuller flavour. |
|
| York Easter Egg Hunt at The Balloon Tree | Date Posted: 10.03.2009 |
| The Easter Egg Hunt was a great success. Photos taken with the Easter Bunny are ready to collect from the Cafe now. 9th - 13th April, 10am - 4pm, £5 per child • Easter Egg Hunt around the farm • Your photo with the Easter Bunny • Egg decorating competition with fantastic prizes! • Enter the egg & spoon race |
|
| Spoil your mum this Mothers Day with The Balloon Tree Mothers Day Special | Date Posted: 10.03.2009 |
| Sunday 22nd March £11.95 for 2 courses including a free gift to all mothers – a ceramic pot and Spring plant, and a voucher for April to redeem in the cafe Choose from the following menu: Fresh homemade soup of the day with a freshly baked roll and butter Fish cakes with a sweet chilli or lemon mayo sauce Brandy and herb chicken liver pate with warm toast and butter Locally reared Longhorn roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables Yorkshire rarebit, topped with local rare breed dry cure bacon and roast vine tomato Broccoli cheese with garden herb crumb served with a salad garnish Sticky toffee pudding Apple pie with custard or cream Warm chocolate and walnut brownie with vanilla ice cream Please book to avoid disappointment |
|
| Eat healthy this New Year with The Balloon Tree Superfresh range of vegetables harvested every morning. | Date Posted: 20.01.2009 |
| We have no middleman or transport costs so you should save money too. There are plenty of recipes in Gran’s recipe book for fantastic dishes to impress your family and friends, eat for little money and keep happy and healthy. Purple Sprouting Brocolli This is coming off the farm over the next month, but is slow growing this year for some reason. Notice that buying it loose means you get more for your money (when it’s packaged it looks like your getting more than you actually are), it’s also good for the environment too. Feel free to re use your brown bags! It always amazes us that such a tender ‘melt in your mouth’ product thrives in such hardy wintry conditions – enjoy! Curly Kale This is Packed with so much nutrition that it’s increasingly known as a ‘superfood’. A whole sprig is so big that you can’t even fit it in your pan, making it an excellent cost effective addition to your meals. Winter Cauliflowers An excellent staple and a really good crop this year. The varieties we choose mean that it’s hardy yet still tender to eat. The cauliflower and coriander soup is ‘to die for’ according to the Great Taste Award judges from the Guild of Fine Food Awards. Parsnips and Carrots Most have been impressed with the size of these this year, as are we! They’re not woody despite their size, and as they’ve yielded so well they’re great value for money. Notice the overpowering fresh smell when you break them – how it should be! Leeks We will ridge them up this year meaning they are more tender and white than before – thanks for the feedback. Cabbages There are loads of different varieties we chose meaning you can take your pick. Cabbage is another one of those vegetables with an astonishingly high vitamin content. Cabbage juice is apparently the most healthy drink known to man, perfect for that immune system at such a sniffly time of year – go on, we dare you! |
|
| Father Christmas's Woodland Grotto | Date Posted: 27.11.2008 |
| Father Christmas and his helper will be flying to The Balloon Tree on the following dates: • 6th & 7th Dec • 13th & 14th Dec • 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st Dec They will be ready for visitors from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. And for £5 you: • Have your photo taken with Father Christmas • ‘Pick Your Own’ healthy Christmas dinner vegetables • Have fun decorating your own Christmas treat • Receive traditional stocking gifts All ages welcome. Please book to avoid disappointment. He might fly in for midweek party bookings; Call his helper, Diane, on 01759 373023 to arrange. |
|
| Place your Christmas Order for a chance to win your turkey! | Date Posted: 27.11.2008 |
| This year you will automatically be entered into a prize draw by ordering a turkey or goose on your Christmas order for a chance to win the Christmas poultry ordered. Christmas order forms are available in the shop or you can download one from our website. Orders need to be placed by 16th December to be sure you get all those tasty treats secured for the perfect Christmas dinner. |
|
| An Artisan Evening of Festive Tastes | Date Posted: 27.11.2008 |
| We had a fantastic evening on Thursday 20th November - where we held our first Artisan Evening of Festive Tastes. The shop and our Christmas marquee was host to a number of our local suppliers as well as our award winning Master Baker and Head Chef who were all cooking / demonstrating and giving away loads of tasty tasters. It was an ideal opportunity to try a delicious selection of all that will be offered at The Balloon Tree this Christmas. The cafe was also fully booked for evening dinners. It was a real success and we hope to be holding more evenings like this in the future. We do our best to have tasters out in the shop on a daily basis so you can try before you buy. |
|
| Souper Soups | Date Posted: 27.11.2008 |
| The Balloon Tree kitchen deservedly won our 5th, 6th and 7th Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, all for soups. The Broccoli & Stilton, Tomato & Basil and Cauliflower & Coriander Soup were all awarded golds. The Great Taste Awards, run by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, are renowned for being the “Oscars of the Food World”. |
|
| Balloon Tree Farmshop makes York THE food destination of Yorkshire - Twice! | Date Posted: 27.11.2008 |
| The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe celebrated a spectacular evening at the Yorkshire Regional Food Group Awards by winning the Best Farm Shop in Yorkshire for a 2nd year running. The quirky and revolutionary business was described as having meticulous attention to detail and outstanding customer service, and as a result, fended off the competition. The entire category was hotly contested, with 27 Yorkshire Farmshops entering into the running for the prestigious title. We are now approaching 30 awards in just over 4 years which is just fantastic. So thank you again to all our loyal customers and to our excellent team for making it possible. |
|
| BBC Look North features the Balloon Tree | Date Posted: 01.07.2008 |
| There was much excitement at the Balloon Tree today (1st July) as we had a film crew with us nearly all day to do a feature on our 'PYO' table top strawberries. The BBC Look North team were most impressed with the way in which we grow strawberries and how easy and plentiful they are to pick. The feature ran in the lunchtime and the evening BBC Look North Yorkshire program. You can view the clip again by visiting: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7483593.stm |
|
| Raspberries are ready for PYO | Date Posted: 01.07.2008 |
| The PYO trail now offers: strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, pulling peas and broad beans. And if you don't feel like picking your own, we have ready picked fruit and veg available to buy in the shop. |
|
| P.Y.O is in full swing | Date Posted: 17.06.2008 |
| PYO strawberries are in full swing - this year with a difference...on table tops! The table top strawberries are much better for picking, as it is not as back bending, and you can see the strawberries more easily and pick them a lot quicker – infact when looking below the tables it is quite a site with all the ripe strawberries hanging down waiting to be picked. The table top strawberries have been under polytunnels to protect them from the rain and to bring the crop on that bit earlier to ensure the PYO season lasts longer, with the more traditional rows in the fields ripening a little later. The PYO strawberry season lasts until the end of July at the Balloon Tree, with 10 varieties of strawberries grown on site, chosen for their flavour, not their shelf life. This is possible as they are picked first thing in the morning and on the shop shelves within minutes or hours – resulting in truly superfresh, tasty strawberries still full of goodness. The ‘Pick Your Own Trail’ comprises a great choice of fruit and vegetables to pick throughout the summer months including strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, pulling peas and broad beans. |
|
| The Balloon Tree is 4 years old | Date Posted: 14.05.2008 |
| We recently celebrated our 4th birthday on April 1st and would like to thank all our customers for the support you have given us since we opened. We could not have achieved the level of success without your exceptionally loyal support. Thank you. |
|
| Superfresh Homegrown Asparagus Available Now | Date Posted: 14.05.2008 |
| At long last we are very pleased to announce that our Asparagus season is up and running. It was a little late coming this year due to the cold weather - but the sunshine we have had lately has bought it on nicely. We thank you all for being patient and look forward to seeing you. We expect the season to last the usual 6 - 8 weeks. The bundles will be graded for your convenience. We will also have 'mishapes' available to buy - perfect for making soup. Keep an eye out for the homemade asparagus soups available to buy in the farmshop and the homemade asparagus specials in the cafe. |
|
| Gran’s Seasonal Vegetable Recipe Book - on sale now | Date Posted: 02.04.2008 |
| Gran’s Seasonal Vegetable Recipe Book is available in the shop, priced at £3.00. Promoting healthy eating, buying locally and making the most of the superfresh produce available to you at this time of year. Gran has shared her secret tips for preparing and cooking each vegetable along with interesting suggestions on ingredients and presentation. Many of the recipes have featured on the Balloon Tree Cafe specials board and use the finest freshest ingredients that we have grown on site and delivered to the kitchen by either walking or quads. We hope you enjoy trying out the tried and tested recipes and making the most of the superfresh vegetables available to you at the Balloon Tree Farmshop. Look out for the Spring/Summer version coming soon. |
|
| First tip of the month! | Date Posted: 02.04.2008 |
| We have picked the very first few asparagus tips from the far field on site and put them on sale in the shop. Needless to say they weren't on the shelf for long. There may be the odd few tips on sale through out April so keep a look out. The full crop should be ready by the end of April and the season should last through to end of July. |
|
| Balloon Tree wins 20th award with Farm shop Retailer of the Year | Date Posted: 02.04.2008 |
| The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe picked up it’s 20th accolade – this time for ‘Farm Shop Retailer of the Year’ at the annual Deliciouslyorkshire Awards for 2007/08. It was an evening where the region’s finest food and drink was celebrated. We are thrilled to win this award which shows our huge commitment to prioritising regional and self-sufficient produce. After winning ‘Best Farm Shop’ back in July 2005, it is a real benchmark to be considered the best still three years on. We would like to thank our team and customers too, without whom we would not be here. |
|
| The Bridge is OPEN! | Date Posted: 06.06.2007 |
| We are pleased to announce the bridge at Stamford Bridge is back OPEN after its renovations. Thank you for your patience throughout its time of closure – we are very much looking forward to getting back to normal. 25th May 2007. |
|
| 'Young Grower of the Year' Award Winner | Date Posted: 28.03.2007 |
| Rob Sturrock, our field manager, has fulfilled his life long dream of becoming Englands 'Young Grower of the Year'. He was presented the award at the prestigious Grower of the Year award ceremony held in London's Royal Lancaster Hotel, Mayfair, in February. His efforts were recognised by a panel of industry experts, who were most impressed with the economical and environmentally sustainable business model. They noted that the UK farming and retail economies, as well as consumers would benefit hugely if they were to adopt this style of self sufficient enterprise made possible by Rob’s unfaultering enthusiasm, and outstanding ability to grow so many different types of fruit and vegetable to such a high standard. Well done Rob! |
|
| Bridge Closure – Open for business as usual | Date Posted: 06.02.2007 |
| It was a bitter sweet situation when we found out the bridge, in Stamford Bridge, was going to close in March (pedestrian access is still fine). On the one hand it’s great that it is being repaired, it keeps the traffic (and the trade) coming through for a few more years once it’s re-opened. On the other, we have 3 months of a very tricky situation with the business side of things. We have prepared as much as possible, by informing our customers of the anticipated diversions. Call into the shop for a newsletter or phone us on 01759 373 023 for more information. |
|
| Retailer of the Year for 2nd Year Running | Date Posted: 29.11.2006 |
| We celebrated a spectacular evening at the Evening Press Business Awards on 16th November 2006, held at York Racecourse where we won the category ‘Retailer of the Year’ again, fending off competition from the infamous, international retailer, Mulberry Hall. We had not expected to win, after such a successful year last year where we won ‘Growth Business of the Year’, the ‘Retailer of the Year’, and to top it off the ultimate title of overall ‘2005 Evening Press Business of the Year’. Matthew Machin said, “Wow! Two years in a row is just fantastic. We must be doing something right but as we said last year, it is all down to an amazing team and an extremely loyal customer base, who really appreciate how difficult it is to try and produce and grow the majority of the products to an extremely high standard in house.” |
|
| Gold Great Taste Award for Cranberry Flap Jack | Date Posted: 05.09.2006 |
| We are very excited about the recent Gold Great Taste Award for Phyllis' Cranberry Flap Jack. The Great Taste Awards are the most prestigious gourmet food awards in the UK, possibly, the world. All entries are subjected to rigorous judging by teams of experts which include top chefs, critics, food retailers, writers and buyers. Phyllis, our in-house baker, has been making cakes for the shop and the sweet trolley in the cafe (which has now got quite a name for itself!) since we opened. She is thrilled with this latest award as it the third Great Taste Award she has has won. One of her most popular cakes, the Lemon Drizzle was awarded a Bronze last year as well as Auntie Wendy’s Cold Chocolate Biscuit Cake, (made by Phyllis but the recipe handed down from Auntie Wendy) which was awarded a Silver. But this is her first Gold - Well Done Phyllis! |
|
| Local school names new Wallabies and Pigmy Goats | Date Posted: 19.06.2006 |
| We are very excited about the new addition of our 3 wallabies and 2 pigmy goats, which are situated in the field by the children's play area. Year 3 & 4 from Stamford Bridge Primary School took part in a naming competition at The Balloon Tree on June 7th. They were greeted with strawberries and cream and submitted their names for the animals, which were then picked at random. The wallabies are named Rocky, Tinker and the joey is named Co-Co. The white pigmy goat is named Wallace and the brown one is named Snorkel. Thank you to the children for their help. |
|
| Awards | Date Posted: 16.06.2006 |
| We have had a very successful year of award winning, which we are genuinely astounded by. The most recent being the Yell Business Awards, where we won 'Best Family Business' in the North East. To read more please click here. |
|
| Shop Extension | Date Posted: 16.06.2006 |
| We extended the shop, adding a third cash register to create more space, resulting in a more enjoyable shopping experience for our customers. |
|
| Gluten Free Range | Date Posted: 16.06.2006 |
| It has taken us a while to respond to customer requests but we hope we are just about there. The gluten free range, available in the shop, includes sausages, biscuits, frozen puddings and quiches ….mmmm! |
|