Brougham Hall Farm, south of Penrith, has set up a box scheme to sell its Saddleback pork directly to consumers. Sarah Harden, who breeds the Saddleback pigs, says she’s found that customers want to know how much they are going to spend, and will then let Sarah know what their requirements are, based on the size and make-up of their family. There are £25 and £50 boxes, or you can buy half a pig at £110 – and the meat is available twice a month.

Sarah takes orders over the phone, or you can stop by the farm. “I haven’t got a website, because I don’t really need one – I don’t want hundreds of people ordering, because I don’t want to expand. I’d just like a few more local people to know we’re here.”

Sarah returned to the family farm six years ago, after 20 years of living and working in London. “I realised that I had dropped pork/bacon off the family menu because everywhere seemed to sell Danish.” She got her first two pigs to clear an orchard at the farm, and then they went into deep freezers as food for the family. She now has eight sows and Augustus the boar. “We chose Saddlebacks after a family tasting session of other breeds. I am keen to support rare breeds and we have Highland cattle and Irish Draught Horses,” she says. “I am trying to build up a sustainable way to produce quality tasting pork for local consumption and think that by selling direct we can keep costs down and offer good value for a superior tasting product.”

To order Brougham Saddleback pork, call the farm at 01768 891913, or visit Brougham Hall Farm, Penrith CA10 2DE. Alternatively email Sarah at brocavum@btinternet.com