Svinvik Gard wins the Rural Development Award in Møre og Romsdal

The farm in Svinvika has a long tradition of embracing new ideas. When Tore and Kristina Svinvik took over the farm in 2015, they faced a crossroads. They made a bold choice: dairy farming or running a restaurant. They chose the latter, and Svinvik farm restaurant was born.

'This award means a great deal to us,' says Kristina Svinvik.

- In 2015, we decided to stop traditional farming at Svinvika and instead pursue other opportunities offered by the farm. Our aim and ambition have always been to showcase farming in a positive way through our restaurant in the barn. This award inspires and motivates us to continue developing the restaurant and the farm.

Drawing on the farm's history and Kristina's experience as a chef and food communicator, they have developed the Svinvik Gard farm restaurant. The barn has been converted into a modern restaurant while retaining traces of its past as a livestock building. Tore has also joined the restaurant full-time, working both front of house and as a general handyman.

Using ingredients harvested and sourced from the surrounding countryside and local community, they offer a taste of the mountains and fjords. The combination of food made with seasonal local ingredients and the farm's history gives visitors a memorable overall experience.

Svinvik Gard aims to source as many of its ingredients as possible locally. It therefore works with local farmers and buys from local suppliers whenever possible. It also highlights local experiences in the area and reduces emissions through local sourcing. By working together with others, Svinvik Gard helps strengthen local businesses, including farms, hotels and entertainment providers.

In recent years, Kristina and Tore Svinvik have built the business into a financially sustainable enterprise. The restaurant provides full-time work for both Kristina and Tore. It has also become an important employer, particularly for local young people. These are valuable jobs in a rural area. Through local partnerships and purchasing, they also help create jobs in other businesses.

We are very impressed by the work the award winners have done in Svinvika:

'We are very impressed by what Kristina and Tore have achieved. They have created valuable jobs in this rural community, both for themselves and their employees, almost all of whom are under 35. They have achieved strong results by harnessing the opportunities offered by agriculture, quality ingredients and customer experiences,' says Helge Gjerde, our Regional Director for Møre og Romsdal.