Holbeach, Spalding and Deeping St Nicholas butchers call for special protection for the Lincolnshire sausage

South Holland produces a lot of the country’s food - but our contribution seems to be missed off the national stage.

Last week Welsh leeks were given special regional protection under the UK Geographical Indication scheme along with the likes of the Pembrokeshire earlies and the Newmarket Sausage (why?!).

If you search the database of 92 UK registered products county favourites such as the Lincolnshire Sausage, Haslet, Stuffed Chine or Plumbread do not have protected status.

Greater Lincolnshire is covered with traditional smoked haddock from Grimsby being listed on the database.

The protected geographical status aims to preserve the name, authenticity and characteristics of regional products by preventing producers outside of that area from using that name.

Up to 30% of the country’s food is produced in or passes through the area - it seems wrong that we are missed off the list.

A campaign to give the Lincolnshire Sausage protected status failed in 2012 when the bid was turned down by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Officials decided that the majority of sausages were produced outside of the county to a recipe that could be easily replicated - but leeks are fine!

A number of butchers in South Holland feel that our famous sausage deserves the protected status along with some of the other Lincolnshire produce.

G Shearer & Sons Butchers is a Holbeach favourite with owner Mark using the recipe which had been passed down from his grandfather.

Manager Ben Tindale said that Lincolnshire sausage deserves to recognised.

He said: “We are very proud of the Lincolnshire Sausage as it the best and deserves to be recognised.

“It is a product that should not imitated. The imitation feels like an insult and a mockery.

“We feel things like Lincolnshire Chine deserve to be recognised as well.

“We’d like to see that gained status. If there is room for a Newmarket Sausage , there is definitely room for Lincolnshire Chine.”

Andrew Parsons, of Bennett’s Butcher’s in Spalding, feels that Lincolnshire and its products deserves some recognition.

He said: “I would like to see the campaign revived again but it will cost thousands to do it.

“People know that the sausages that are made in Lincolnshire are far better than the ‘Lincolnshire sausages’ made in Cornwall.

“It is a shame Lincolnshire is a huge food producer area.”

Grasmere Farm - which have sites in Deeping St Nicholas Vine House Farm, Market Deeping, Bourne and Stamford - also like to see the delicacy of Haslet given the registration.

The farm, which has been running since 1969, produces its own pork.

Sales and marketing manager James Barnes said: “We absolutely agree that, along with Haslet, Lincolnshire Sausages should have geographic protected status.

“There is no reason for it not to be in the same category as a Cornish Pasty or Wiltshire Cured Ham.

“We have worked hard to perfect our recipe for both Lincolnshire Sausages and Haslet over decades and both are very much part of our heritage. In fact, people from all over the UK order our Lincolnshire Sausages to get an authentic taste of Lincolnshire so clearly people appreciate buying from it’s natural home.

“Lincolnshire has so many great products made by passionate food producers and as a collective we are probably guilty of not making enough noise about the wonderful food that comes from our wonderful county.”

Tell us what do you think? Does Lincolnshire deserve greater recognition for its products?

Email victoria.fear@iliffepublishing.co.uk with your thoughts.

PLUS: Don't miss the December 8 edition of the Spalding Guardian for 25% off Lincolnshire sausages, Lincolnshire chipolatas and haslet at Grasmere Farm with our special reader offer.