A FAMILY of farmers who started making ice cream to help secure their farm’s future have had their produce named the best in Yorkshire.

Internationally-acclaimed food critics Jay Rayner and Simon Majumdar were tasked with selecting the very best of Yorkshire food.

And they singled out Just Jenny’s Honey Comb Ice Cream, produced by dairy farmer Jenny Clarkson, as one of the winners.

The 28-year-old’s family, based at Hazel Slack Farm in Barkisland, have been dairy farmers for more than 50 years.

The farm, owned by Jim Clarkson and run with his wife Jane and children Jenny and Richard, has 135 Holstein Friesian cows and sells milk wholesale.

But in the last 15 years, the number of dairy farms in the area has reduced from seven to two and falling milk prices prompted the family to add another string to their bow.

So Jenny and her mum decided to devote time to building up Just Jenny’s farmhouse ice cream, which they started two years ago.

Making ice cream has been Jenny’s dream to keep the farm in the family and make a better return on the milk they produce, with local restaurants, farm shops and delicatessens already selling her ice cream.

And when it came to selecting the best of Yorkshire’s food, it was Jenny’s ice cream that caught the attention of some of the most respected critics in the business.

Award-winning food critic Jay Rayner said: “The killer combination of crunchy honey comb and the creamy velvety texture of proper ice cream was a real winner.

“I’m delighted to hear it comes from a local family farm using honey from a local beekeeper. This is a great example of how food should be produced.”

As well as using fresh whole milk and cream from the Clarkson’s family farm, the honey comb ice cream includes huge amounts of crunchy cinder toffee from Dobson’s sweet factory in Elland.

The search for the best local produce was held to select food and drink for Fodder, a new farm shop and cafe being set up by Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The shop, due to open in Harrogate this summer, aims to support local farmers and producers like the Clarksons and promote their produce to a wider market.

Jenny said she was thrilled that her product was chosen.

She said: “I am overwhelmed by winning, as just a small producer I didn’t realise I was in the running.

“I’m not surprised they like it though, it’s made with the very best local ingredients and a lot of love!”

Jenny plans to be the launch of the flagship Fodder, situated on the edge of the Great Yorkshire Showground, on June 17.

Just Jenny’s ice cream tastes old fashioned and homemade, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

It comes in a large variety of flavours, with raspberry banana, ginger and lemon flavours having just been launched.

For more information or for local stockists visit www.justjennys.co.uk.