The Organic Pantry
Yorkshire
Just outside of Tadcaster, St Helen’s Farm has been traditionally farmed by generations of the Watson family. In 1999 Jonnie Watson converted the land over to organic and they have not looked back. Now growing from seed over 40 varieties of vegetable, cereal and salad crops.
Certified by the Soil Association, organic produce is available through their Box Scheme, Farmer’s Markets and the on-site farm shop. They also wholesale fruit and vegetables on a larger scale. Their online organic shop is extensive selling organic boxes, vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy all locally produced. In recent years they have developed their own line of packaged and processed organic vegetables for mass catering and retail outlets.
NHS caterers from Stockport, Bradford, Sheffield, South Tees, Manchester, Milton Keynes and Yorkshire attended.
We were given a tour of the farm by Jonny Watson, the farmers. He explained how he has transitioned the family farm to organic and how they hope to reach their target of being carbon neutral. We walked through the polytunnels to the fields where green kale, spring crops, cauliflower and broccoli were starting to be picked. We watched potatoes being planted by hand by a team sitting on the back of an old tractor, apparently by far the best way! We saw the 2km of new hedging and the new woodland that has been planted and learned how this is benefitting the wildlife on the farm. And we finished with a visit to the packing house where potatoes are prepared and packed ready for use in Yorkshire schools; and from where the family run their box scheme.
Over the most sensationally delicious lunch that showed us all the incredible taste of naturally grown organic vegetables, we had a long discussion about the challenges and opportunities everyone attending faces in buying more British food.
”It was great to have everyone down to the farm and to see a real interest from the NHS in buying local. Thank you for all the work you are doing to shed light on the supply chain and giving small business like us a voice and the opportunity!
Freddie Watson, The Organic Pantry
Location
The Organic Pantry
St Helens Farm
Rudgate
Tadcaster
Yorkshire
LS24 9LY
