A FARM near Haywards Heath is bolstering consumer confidence in meat by offering local, grass-fed produce direct to customers.

Butterbox Farm is selling meat boxes from its premises, which covers more than 380 acres.

By supplying to individual customers and restaurants, the farm hopes to restore confidence in British meat after supermarket scandals have left people wondering about the origin and quality of their food.

“There have been some disturbing headlines about British meat in recent years,” says Pat Garratt, whose grandfather Reggie Mason bought Butterbox Farm nearly a century ago.

“There’s been the horsemeat scandal as well as recurring concerns about animal cruelty and the chemicals which are used in farming.”

Meat customers collecting their home-reared meat are encouraged to visit their 270 acres of grassland to see the way animals are treated, tour the premises and ask any questions.

“We like people to see our animals and take pride that they can rest assured the food on their plate is exactly how nature intended,”said Peter Froggatt, Farm Manager.

“All our calves suckle their mums until they’re ready to be naturally weaned at around nine months old.

“Our grass-reared method means we know exactly what the animals are eating; they go out in our fields or in big open space barns for winter and have our home-produced hay and silage.

“As it takes a lot longer to finish rearing and without any manufactured concentrate feeds, the meat has time to naturally develop a better depth of flavour too.”

Boxes are filled with home-reared meat, either beef, lamb, mutton or hogget.