Farmer Eddie's hope for the future

8:38am Sunday 6th April 2008

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FARMING will experience a resurgence as global food shortages start to bite, according to a farmer who led the way with diversification.

Eddie Cowpe is the man behind Huntley's, a farm shop off the A59, Samlesbury, which has been a big success since it opened in February 2001.

As he stood in Huntley's new food hall, which opened last month, Eddie was bullish about UK agriculture and how businessmen such as himself could show the way forward.

Local farming has been crippled by BSE, foot and mouth and increased foreign competition in recent years.

But Mr Cowpe said: "Within the next 10 years there will be food queues in this country and farming will come back and be better than it is at the moment.

"There will be a food shortage on a global level as supply struggles to meet demand and farming in this country will be there to fill the gap.

"We've shown what can be done.

"We are the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer, the whole package."

Having started off with an ice cream parlour and cafe seven years ago, Huntley's has added the food hall which incorporates a bakery, wine store, meat and fish counters, cheese stalls and homemade Moo2You ice cream.

The new structure is also home to a furniture sales area, antiques shop, florist and even a clothes store.

Eddie owns five farms from which he sources much of his beef, lamb and pork and his ambitions extend beyond the addition of the new building.

He said: "There are plans for a conference centre, education centre, more units to let and offices.

"There is currently a waiting list of people who want to have their businesses based here and I am very proud of what I have achieved."

The food hall also has a memorial to Eddie's daughter Vicky who died aged 17 on the day it opened after a long battle with Rett's Syndrome.

An area outside the hall has been christened Vicky's Courtyard and there is a remembrance plaque on the wall.