Food and Drink Membership

This category covers food and drink products grown, reared or produced in Dorset from a majority of Dorset ingredients. The criteria for Food and Drink are as follows:

The product must comply with all relevant trading standards and consumer protection legislation. The business must be based and operate within Dorset.

Non-Processed Products

If the type of product is not listed below then it must be grown, reared or produced in Dorset.

 

Meat (joints, other cuts and mince)

The animals must have spent 50% of their lives in Dorset. The animals can be slaughtered out of County if Dorset premises are unsuitable (or more distant from the farm than those in neighbouring counties).

Milk

The milk must come from a Dorset herd. It can be processed and packaged out of county.

Fruit and vegetables

These must be either grown from seed in Dorset or can be grown from seedlings as long as the plant spends more than 50% of its life in the County. Neither the seeds nor the seedlings have to be sourced from Dorset.

Wild game

Must be caught and processed in Dorset.

Fish

Sea fish: Must be landed in Dorset, and should be proven to come from sustainable methods and stocks

Other wild fish: Must be caught in Dorset

Farmed fish: Must have spent at least 50% of their lives in Dorset

Direct from Dorset criteria for sea fish are being developed – watch this space.

Please note: Any product not covered by the criteria will be put to the Steering Group Membership Panel who will make a decision that will set the criteria for the future.

Processed Products

The process must take place in Dorset. Applicants will be required to sign an undertaking to use ingredients that are from Dorset whenever it is reasonable to do so taking into consideration quality, availability and price. In all cases, over 50% of the ingredients (by weight at mixing bowl stage) must originate within Dorset from a source covered by the environmental criteria for the product to be eligible.

Please note: This undertaking will be monitored through the auditing / checking process undertaken by Dorset County Council's Trading Standards Service
The Steering Group reserves the right to change the criteria to reflect new circumstances.

What's the next step?

If you would like to apply either download an application form or give us a call and we’ll send you one. Once you’ve completed it return it to us at Direct from Dorset. The application will then be passed to Dorset Trading Standards to carry out checks to ensure the product fits the criteria. Once they are happy it will be passed to the Steering Group Membership Panel to be approved.

Full Membership:  For a application pack, please contact the Dorset AONB   either by email k.wright@dorsetcc.gov.uk or call 01305 228239

Associate Membership: For a application pack, please contact the Dorset AONB   either by email k.wright@dorsetcc.gov.uk or call 01305 228239