Category: Farm shops

As we celebrate British Food Fortnight 2025, there’s no better time to champion the people and places behind Britain’s best food. The Farm Shop Guide does exactly that, with its beautifully designed celebration of farm-to-fork food, local producers, and the communities keeping sustainable British farming alive.

But this book goes further. With every copy sold, a donation is made to the Sustainable Food Trust, and its readers are introduced to a range of like-minded organisations working for wildlife, soil health, fair farming and a resilient countryside. It’s a guidebook with a good heart, connecting readers not only to great local food, but to the values that make it possible.

Below are some of the organisations that The Farm Shop Guide proudly promotes – and the reasons they’re such a vital part of Britain’s good food story.

The Sustainable Food Trust – building a better food system

At the centre of The Farm Shop Guide’s giving is the Sustainable Food Trust. This pioneering charity works globally and locally to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food and farming systems. From advocating for soil-friendly practices to encouraging true cost accounting in agriculture, their work inspires everything The Farm Shop Guide stands for: food that nourishes people, protects the planet and supports farmers fairly.

The Wildlife Trusts – farming for nature

The Wildlife Trusts protect and restore nature across the UK, often working hand in hand with farmers to make land management more wildlife-friendly. Their campaigns for hedgerows, pollinators and natural habitats echo the values behind Britain’s best farm shops – places where biodiversity thrives alongside good food.

LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) – smart, sustainable farming

LEAF champions integrated farm management, a balanced approach that helps farmers produce high-quality food while caring for the environment. LEAF’s work bridges the gap between science, farming and the public – much like The Farm Shop Guide connects customers with producers who farm with care and purpose.

The Nature Friendly Farming Network – voices for change

The Nature Friendly Farming Network brings together farmers who are proving that profitable farming and thriving nature can go hand in hand. By promoting their work, The Farm Shop Guide celebrates those at the grassroots of change: the farmers rewilding corners of their fields, planting hedges, and showing how good food and good stewardship belong together.

The Biodynamic Association – holistic farming in harmony

The Biodynamic Association promotes an approach to farming that’s rooted in ecology, soil health and respect for natural cycles. Their philosophy aligns beautifully with The Farm Shop Guide’s ethos: food grown slowly, mindfully, and in rhythm with the land.

Buglife – protecting the small but mighty

Pollinators are the unsung heroes of our food system, and Buglife is their champion. From bees and beetles to butterflies, Buglife’s work ensures that the insects vital to pollination and soil fertility continue to thrive – without them, our farm shops’ shelves would soon be bare.

The Farm Retail Association (FRA) – supporting local food heroes

The Farm Retail Association represents farm shops, farmers’ markets and pick-your-own businesses across the UK – the very places celebrated in The Farm Shop Guide. By showcasing this organisation, the book gives back to the community that fills its pages: independent retailers who connect consumers directly with British farmers and home-grown food.

RSPB Fair to Nature – food for wildlife and people

The Fair to Nature scheme, managed by the RSPB, recognises farms that go above and beyond for wildlife. Its certification helps shoppers choose products from farms where birds, bees and biodiversity are thriving. It’s exactly the kind of farming that The Farm Shop Guide seeks to highlight: where every purchase helps nature as well as people.

The Permaculture Association – designing for sustainability

The Permaculture Association promotes design systems for living and growing sustainably: principles that underpin many of Britain’s best regenerative farms. Their work helps create a resilient food system where resources are reused, waste is minimised, and communities flourish.

The Royal Countryside Fund – keeping rural Britain thriving

Founded by HM King Charles III, the Royal Countryside Fund supports rural communities and family farms. By helping farmers build business resilience and by funding local initiatives, it ensures the countryside remains a vibrant place to live and work: something many readers of The Farm Shop Guide values deeply.

The Soil Association – championing organic food

The Soil Association has long been the voice for organic farming in the UK. Their campaigns for healthy soil, good animal welfare and climate-friendly food reflect everything The Farm Shop Guide celebrates: transparency, trust, and taste rooted in the earth.

OF&G Organic – certifying with integrity

OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers) certifies organic food and farming businesses with an emphasis on integrity and sustainability. Including their work in The Farm Shop Guide recognises the vital role certification plays in helping consumers trust where their food comes from.

Better Food Traders – fairer food for all

The Better Food Traders network connects ethical food retailers who champion fair prices, short supply chains, and climate-conscious practices. The Farm Shop Guide shares their mission – to make good food accessible, local and fair.

Pasture For Life – meat you can trust

The Pasture for Life movement certifies farms that raise animals entirely on grass and pasture. The result is meat that’s better for animals, farmers, people and the planet. It’s a story of integrity, and is one that The Farm Shop Guide is proud to share.

A guidebook with a conscience

At a time when many of us want to shop more responsibly and eat more locally, The Farm Shop Guide offers inspiration and direction – showing that every purchase can be an act of care. By donating to the Sustainable Food Trust and highlighting the work of these other inspiring organisations, the book helps ensure that British farms are promoted, helping them to thrive and continue to grow food in a way that’s kind to people, animals and the planet.

So this British Food Fortnight (and beyond), go the extra mile: buy British, visit your local farm shop, and choose food that supports a better future for all.

Every autumn, British Food Fortnight shines a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible bounty grown, reared, and produced across the UK. It’s a joyful two weeks of celebrating home-grown food, supporting British farmers, and reconnecting with the land that sustains us. For anyone passionate about sustainability, low-food-miles produce and discovering local flavours, this is the perfect time to explore your nearest farm shop, taste the best of British, and buy food that truly supports our countryside.

If you’ve ever wanted to eat more seasonally, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy fresher, more flavourful ingredients, British Food Fortnight is your invitation to do just that.

What is British Food Fortnight?

British Food Fortnight is the nation’s biggest celebration of British produce, organised by Love British Food. It typically runs for two weeks in late September and early October, coinciding with harvest season: a fitting moment to celebrate the richness of the British countryside.

Now running for over 20 years, the event brings together farmers, food producers, farm shops, restaurants, schools, and communities to champion home-grown food. The idea is simple: to remind us all of the value of buying British. This is not only for taste and freshness but also for the health of our planet and our rural economies.

At its heart, the campaign encourages people to choose local: to seek out British ingredients in shops, to dine at restaurants that source from nearby farms, and to support producers who care deeply about the land.

Where it’s happening

The beauty of British Food Fortnight is that it happens everywhere, from small rural villages to bustling cities. You’ll find events in farm shops, markets, pubs, and schools across the country. Many local councils and community groups get involved too, hosting food festivals, tasting sessions, cookery demos, and farm tours.

Farm shops are often at the centre of the celebration. Many places host tastings of seasonal produce, cheese and cider pairings, pick-your-own fruit days, and family-friendly events that showcase the stories behind local food.

You can find participating businesses on the Love British Food website or simply ask your local farm shop if they’re taking part. (Chances are, they’ll be delighted to tell you all about their latest harvest!)

Why buy British?

Choosing British food isn’t just patriotic. It’s practical, sustainable, and delicious (as the 150+ places in our own The Farm Shop Guide will attest!).

Here’s why buying British matters:

• Fewer food miles: Home-grown food travels shorter distances meaning it’s fresher, tastier, and has a smaller carbon footprint.

• Support for local farms: Every pound spent at a farm shop or local market goes back into the community, helping family-run farms thrive and keeping rural communities alive.

• Better animal welfare: British farmers are recognised for maintaining some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.

• Seasonal eating: Buying British means eating with the seasons — crisp apples in autumn, plump asparagus in spring, and juicy strawberries in summer.

• A stronger rural economy: Supporting British producers keeps the countryside alive and working, preserving traditional skills and landscapes.

It’s a simple equation: buying British food sustains British farms.

How to get involved

There are so many easy, rewarding ways to take part in British Food Fortnight:

1. Visit your local farm shop: Discover fresh produce straight from nearby fields. Many farm shops offer local cheeses, chutneys, breads, and meats you won’t find in supermarkets.

2. Cook a British meal: Plan a dinner around seasonal British ingredients. Think roast root vegetables, local lamb, or apple crumble with fruit from a nearby orchard.

3. Join an event: Look out for community feasts, farmers’ markets or open farm days near you.

4. Share on social media: Tag your finds with #LoveBritishFood or #BuyBritish and help spread the message.

5. Give the gift of local food: A hamper of farm shop favourites makes the perfect present for food lovers.

Discover more with The Farm Shop Guide

If British Food Fortnight leaves you hungry for more, The Farm Shop Guide is your ultimate companion. This beautifully crafted book from Extra Mile Books showcases the best farm-to-fork destinations across the UK, from hidden rural gems to coastal farm shops and market cafés.

Every entry celebrates the people behind the produce (the farmers, bakers, butchers, and growers) who are all committed to sustainability and high-quality, low-food-miles food. Whether you’re planning a countryside trip or simply looking for a more ethical way to shop, The Farm Shop Guide helps you discover where your food really comes from.

It’s not just a directory; it’s an invitation to live more locally, gently, and deliciously.

A celebration that lasts all year

While British Food Fortnight may officially last two weeks, its spirit can carry on throughout the year. Every time you buy from a local farm shop, choose British butter over imported brands, or visit a pick-your-own orchard, you’re celebrating what makes our countryside so special.

Supporting British farmers is about more than food. It’s about community, sustainability, and a shared respect for the land. So this British Food Fortnight, go the extra mile: discover your nearest farm shop, fill your basket with local goodness, and take a bite of Britain at its best.