Buffalo bill: Steve steers crowdfunder towards target for mozzarella goal
Fife farmer has already secured £556,000 from good food lovers
Steve Mitchell, Fife buffalo farmer and star of the BBC’S This Farming Life, has reached £556,000 of his £800,000 buffalo mozzarella crowdfunding goal – with just under a fortnight to go until the target must be met.
Steve’s ambition to provide Scotland with its first ever homeproduced buffalo mozzarella started not long after the herd arrived at his farm. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay visited and together they made a trial batch, giving Steve the determination to supply foodies with the special cheese.
Steve, the sixth generation of the Mitchell family to farm in Fife, is seeking support to help him secure the final funding he needs to turn a dream into reality. He is offering supporters of his crowdfunding campaign, called the Founders Club, the chance to secure rewards comparable to a 10 per cent return on investment, delivered in buffalo vouchers, in addition to a host of other exciting social benefits such as farm tours, the chance to name a buffalo and having your name captured in the build of new facilities.
The ambitious target of £800,000 will enable Steve to build a manufacturing facility, milking parlour and slurry store. New or existing fans of The Buffalo Farm can help to make the buffalo mozzarella dream come true in one of three ways: Buffalo Farm Supporters Club, Buffalo Farm Founders Club or Buffalo Farm Founders Executive Club.
Steve said: “Producing buffalo mozzarella has been a long-held dream and it’s now so close I can almost taste it! I am so grateful to all those who have shown their support so far, either by donating or by helping to spread the word. The social benefits of getting involved have so far proven to be just as popular as the financial incentives. People seem really keen to see us succeed.
“In these current political times, I feel more passionate than ever about local food and drink and being able to contribute to my local community, as well as to the wider Scottish industry, by producing home-grown buffalo meat and, once we hit target, mozzarella.
“I am both humbled and excited to have reached £556,000 and I urge anyone keen on supporting a local business, and a delicious product, to support the crowdfund if you can and help us to reach our final target.”