The harvest festival is around the corner, and what better way is there to celebrate, than with freshly baked bread? Here at Dunn’s Bakery in Crouch End we ensure that all the relationships we build are maintained and kept strong. One special relationship that we have kept striving over the years is with our baker, Ron, who specialises in harvest bread.
History behind Dunn’s Bakery relationship with Ron
At 15 years old, Ron began training at Dunn’s Bakery as an apprentice. After learning the art behind baking, an enthusiastic Ron continued to work for many more years alongside the family owned bakery. After years of working and gaining experience from one of North London’s finest bakeries, Ron went on to open his own bakery in the Essex area; which became very successful.
After retiring, Ron returned to London where he joined the Dunn’s Bakery family once again as a part time baker. As we extended our opening days to Sunday also, we were in need of another baker. Luckily for us, Ron came to the rescue, and took on that role. Returning the favour, Ron began to teach the younger members of the Dunn’s family how to bake, one of those baked goods being Harvest bread.
What is the Harvest Festival?
The annual Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown in the land. The festival has gone back centuries to the pagan days, and is still being celebrated worldwide, with Christians using it as a time to remember what God has done for them.
Originally, the Harvest Festival was celebrated at the beginning of the harvest season on the 1st August, and was called Lammas, meaning ‘Loaf Mass’. Farmers would make bread loaves from the new wheat crop gathered in their fields, and give them to the local churches. The bread was then used as communion bread during mass to thank God for the harvest. However, after Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic church, this tradition ended, and the Harvest festival as we know it today began.
Traditionally, people bring food from home to the Harvest Festival service, either at church or in school. All the food that is brought in is distributed to those in need. Many schools and churches use the festival as an opportunity to raise money and awareness for developing countries with food shortages.
Dunn’s Bakery and the Harvest Festival
Just like any other festival or celebration, Dunn’s Bakery enjoy getting involved in the Harvest festival. As all of our baked goods are made from the freshest local ingredients, we couldn’t let the Harvest Festival pass without a celebration.
For this year’s Harvest Festival, our baker Ron, and our younger Dunn’s Bakery family member, Lewis, came together and made bread loaves to celebrate the festival.
Why not pop in to a local church around the North London area and pick yourself a loaf? You can choose from a wheatsheaf, or 5 loaves and two fishes. Don’t miss out!
Dunn's Bakery 