Schoolgirl's 'egg-citing' prize

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A 10-year-old schoolgirl from Devon is to become one of Britain's youngest food suppliers.

Elsa Amiss' organic duck eggs are to be sold by a national supermarket after she won a major food award.

Her venture is part of an organic free-range duck and egg business at Higher Fingle Farm, Drewsteignton, run by her parents Nevil and Rona Amiss.

The family was named Food Champion of the Year at the Country Living and Waitrose Made in Britain Food Awards.

As well as winning £10,000 in prize money, the duck eggs will now be sold in Waitrose supermarkets.

Elsa's duck eggs are a 'cracking' example Richard Hodgson, Waitrose

Elsa plans to buy more ducks and go to Legoland with her share of the prize money.

She came up with the idea to sell eggs as she wanted to do something that did not involve killing ducks.

"She actually told me she wanted to 'grow' some ducklings," her father told BBC News.

"She's a great girl and we're very happy, although I think the bank manager will be even happier."

The Made in Britain Awards promote the UK's small food and drink producers.

Mr Amiss said the prize money would also be used to improve production facilities and help them get ready for supplying the supermarket.

"What we'll be careful of is maintaining a level of control over production so we don't lose quality," he said.

Elsa takes groups of children round helping them collect eggs

The family sells more than 100 organic ducks a week at their farm on the edge of Dartmoor.

Elsa helps her mother and younger siblings to collect, grade and pack eggs from more than 300 free-range layers.

Brother Alfred, 7, fills the boxes of eggs, Dora, 5, puts on labels and twins Percy and Harold, 3, collect the eggs.

"It's very much a hands-on family concern and we're proud of that," Mr Amiss said.

Richard Hodgson, the commercial director for Waitrose, said buyers were constantly seeking products of the best quality, farmed with high standards of animal welfare.

"Elsa's duck eggs are a 'cracking' example of this - and just the sort of product we wanted to see on our shelves.

"It can take many food producers years of hard work to get their products onto the shelves of a supermarket but Elsa is to be congratulated on achieving this feat at the ripe old age of 10."

Study centre

Mr and Mrs Amiss began their organic free-range duck business in 2001 after the foot and mouth epidemic slashed their income on their sheep and beef farm.

Last December, poultry rustlers stole 350 geese from their Devon farm, and burned down a barn, killing 800 ducklings.

"It wasn't the best of times, but things seem to be getting better now," Mr Amiss said.

The family is also planning to open a study centre in conjunction with Devon County Council to teach schoolchildren how food is produced, marketed and sold.

"We already have some groups come round and Elsa takes the lead by helping them collect eggs.

"It's a great way to get children involved."