Singing Granny on Toast

This was the headline in yesterdays' Citizen - Godsells, local cheese producer are trialing their 'Singing Granny' cheese at local markets - it joins there others: Three Virgins, Scary Mary and Hooded Monk.

The Godsell family has been farming for five generations in the Stroud Valleys (including at Far Westrip, Randwick) producing the milk from a herd of Friesans for the handmade cheese which is free from chemicals, additives and preservatives. Here's more from The Citizen:

Liz Godsell is the master cheese maker helped by husband, Bryan. Liz described Singing Granny as a mature Single Gloucester. "It is 16 months old and a limited edition," she said. "We are trialing it at the moment but it is incredibly popular Stroud Farmers' Market where we sell it. It has a hint of parmesan about it and is full of flavour."

And the name? "We call my mother-in-law the Singing Granny because she sings a lot and S and G are the initials for Single Gloucester," said Liz. Three Virgins is a Cheshire style cheese; Scary Mary, small and strong, while Hooded Monk is a Double Gloucester with dark green wax. Godsells Double and Singer Gloucester cheeses are stocked by the Midcounties Co-operative which has now decided to extend its successful 'Local Harvest' local food scheme into dozens more Co-op stores.

Midcounties Co-operative says that until now its Local Harvest products have only been available in its larger supermarkets. Now they will also be stocked in a large number of the Society's convenience stores giving a boost to the mostly small local businesses that participate in the scheme. Other Gloucestershire food and drink suppliers to the Co-op include Freeminers Brewery of Cinderford; Draycotts Bakery of Cam, near Dursley; Winstone's ice cream of Rodborough near Stroud; Hayles Fruit Farm of Winchcombe; WR Haines farm products of Chipping Campden and Bottlegreen Drinks of South Woodchester, near Stroud.

Patrice Garrigues, ethical trading manager for the Midcounties Co-operative said: "Local Harvest features a wide range of products from over 30 suppliers. For some suppliers extending the scheme will make a real difference and it will increase their distribution by more than 200%. It means we are now able to offer local products in all types of our stores, including the convenience sector, championing the products produced within our trading area. For more details about Local Harvest visit www.midcounties.coop