WILLIAM Hague, MP for Richmond, has opened a farm shop and cafe in his constituency.
The shadow foreign secretary also planted, and sponsored, a plum tree and an apple tree at the Lakeside Farm Shop and Country Cafe at North Farm, Ellerton, near Scorton.
Forty fruit trees are being sponsored in memory of a woman who worked for owners Graeme and Sarah Thompson and who died suddenly. She was a staunch supporter of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which will receive all the proceeds.
Mr Hague praised the new enterprise, which has created nine full-time and 15 part-time jobs, and stressed the importance of local produce and farm shops.
The opening took place on Saturday, and eight local suppliers met customers and offered tastings of their produce.
"It went very well," said Mr Thompson, "People really enjoyed meeting the people who actually produce the food and products we sell."
The shop and cafe are open from 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays apart from bank holidays.
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