Aden Foster and his wife Rosario have been nominated as Farming Heroes, but to many people in their community they are Covid heroes.

The couple had just opened a shop to sell their farm produce when the coronavirus pandemic forced the UK into lockdown.

All their business plans went out the window as suddenly they had a new task – providing a vital service to local families struggling to food and supplies.

The pair launched a free delivery service and expanded the range of products.

“It was very busy,” says Aden. “We were working from 3am to 10pm preparing meat, organising orders of fruit and veg, and also and buying in general groceries like cereals, oil and flour.”

“They were vital through the lockdown,” said nominator Marie Lloyd. “And there meat is wonderful.”

The pandemic and lockdown has put many firms out of business, but for Weobley Ash Meats at Presteigne it has accelerated their business development.

Aden and Rosario keep pigs and Sheep at Nash and the shop was set up mainly to sell pork, bacon, hogget, mutton etc.

“After lockdown was eased customers came back and told us it was because of the taste.”

Now they sell a lot of meat boxes which contain some prime cuts of meat and vegetables that last for several days.

And from a business that sold about 40 per cent of its produce to restaurants and caterers, they now have 90 per going out via the shop on the Presteigne Industrial Estate.

Do you know worthy recipients of a farming award?

Nominate at https://www.herefordtimes.com/awards/tcf/ and fill out the online form with the awards ceremony in digital format this year because of coronavirus.