APRIL 05: THE ARCHERS OF DARLINGTON - ANOTHER FARMING SUCCESS STORY

Ice Cream made from Jersey milk usually gives it a head start in the quality stakes, which has helped in the early success of a Darlington farming business which recently took up membership of Northumbria Larder.
John and Sue Archer of New Moor Farm, Walworth Gate, only a couple of miles from the A1(M), have re-opened their ice cream parlour on the farm for the new season.

In only its second year in existence, the ice cream brand known as Archer's Exquisite has taken off in a most encouraging way, and hundreds of visitors make their way each week to John and Sue's gleaming ice cream parlour, formerly a stable and forge on the 309 acre farm. New Moor Farm, which is owned by the Church Commissioners, fell victim to the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. Its entire stock of 325 Black and Whites and 140 young stock was wiped out. John, who had worked with Jersey cattle in Kenya with his father Robert, decided to get back into Jerseys, buying 320 from Cornwall, Jersey and Hampshire for the Darlington farm, which had been farmed by his father since 1976. Mr Archer senior retired when FMD came along.

John, who attended Newcastle University, and Sue decided to diversify and with the help of grant assistance from Defra, opened their ice cream parlour last May. The parlour is fully stocked with the latest ice cream machines from Italy which provide customers with a wide range of choice, including Simply Jersey, strawberry, tiramisu, banana, toffee, raspberry pavlova, and two fruit ices.

Like most diversification projects, opening the parlour meant taking on an element of risk, especially as Sue gave up her job as a lecturer in holistics at Darlington College to run the new business. But the couple are convinced they have a quality product and take every opportunity to get out and about to market Archer's Exquisite Ice Cream.

Note: Open 11am to 6.00pm seven days a week the ice cream parlour seats around 20 inside and 20 outside on the patio. It also has a delightful children's garden. For further information on New Moor Farm and how to get there phone 01325 300336 or 07732 668523. The web address is: www.archersjerseyicecream.com