An online farmers’ market based in East Cornwall is celebrating its tenth anniversary and rapid expansion.
Tamar Valley Food Hubs supports Tamar Valley growers and producers to expand their markets and offers weekly deliveries and collections of fresh local food and drink to customers across the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), as well as Tavistock and Plymouth.
Set up in 2013, the Kelly Bray-based initiative works with over 70 farmers and growers throughout the year to source a wide range of local goods, with producers receiving 85p of every pound paid by customers.
Claire Morgan, from Tamar Valley Food Hubs, said: “Back in May 2013, we completed the first day of deliveries, working together with 11 local producers and delivering to 14 customers – some of whom are still with us today. We now work with over 70 producers, sell more than 2,000 different products across the year, and deliver to over 200 regular customers across 17 parishes and Plymouth each week.
“The way we work keeps food miles low and supply chains short which enables our customers and community to enjoy fresh, top-quality local produce throughout the year.”
Claire added: “Developing a resilient local food network over the past decade has meant that we didn’t see the wider disruption to supply chains during the pandemic and in more recent times have been slower to see price increases and interruption to supply.”
Tamar Valley Food Hubs, which is part of Tamar Grow Local CIC, is one of 13 projects happening in 2023. These include support for local food producers with training and events, reinvigorating the rich market gardening heritage of the area under the Tamara Landscape Scheme, and to help people grow their own fresh food with events and courses.
The team at Tamar Valley Food Hubs are currently planning a special day of celebrations on Saturday, September 16 to mark the milestone anniversary, taking place at Harrowbarrow and Metherell Village Hall. For further information, please contact Rachael Forster on 07810 648422 and visit the websites www.tamarvalleyfoodhubs.org.uk or www.tamargrowlocal.org.