Ballylagan is a 120-acre family farm at Straid, a few miles outside Ballyclare, and among the first holdings in County Antrim to gain Soil Association organic certification in the early 1990s. In 1999 it opened what is recognised as Northern Ireland's first organic farm shop, and that shop remains the sole outlet for the farm's own beef, pork, bacon, eggs and seasonal fruit and vegetables. Shelves carry organic groceries too: baking ingredients, chocolate, pasta and rice, dairy and cheese, plus eco cleaning products and certified soaps. The adjoining tea room serves light lunches, scones, tray bakes and cakes with tea and coffee. It trades Tuesday to Saturday, the shop from 10am and the café from 9am. Self-catering accommodation and a guest room are also let on the farm.
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