Fresh farm food deliveries on their way to East Devon

A group of East Devon farmers and food producers have come together under the banner 'In My Back Yard' to provide fresh food and other local produce direct to the doors of customers.

Vegetable grower Erin Evans explained the scheme: "In an effort to replace sales to restaurants, cafes, B&Bs and others during the COVID-19 pandemic we have been providing a service for customers to order online since April.

"Our customers have then been collecting their food orders from one of several collection points in towns and villages in the East Devon area. 

"We've been providing home deliveries to several of our more vulnerable local people during the current pandemic and we would now like to provide the service more widely."

''In My Back Yard (IMBY) recently asked their customers to fill in a questionnaire to help plan the expansion of home deliveries and offered entrants a chance of winning a box of farm produce.

The lucky winner Rebecca Jones was picked out of the bag by East Devon district councillor Geoff Pook at IMBY's newest collection point at Charlies Yard, above Beer beach.

Councillor Pook said: "We are very pleased to work with local food producers such as In My Back Yard. They are providing food security and building the local economy during the difficult times created by the COVID-19 emergency.

"We are working to boost a reopening of trade in Beer with weekly markets and food stalls here at Charlies Yard on Friday afternoons throughout August."

In My Back Yard farmers maintain high environmental standards and never use chemical pesticides or artificial fertilisers.

Receiving their box of fresh local food, Rebbecca Jones said: "We are so pleased to be able to get genuine local food produced with such care and to know that the farmers involved are caring for the environment right where we live. I know a lot of this food is harvested on the morning it's delivered, and that really shows in the taste and freshness.

"There's next to no food miles, that never happens in the supermarkets."

The new delivery service will be serving areas in a 15 miles radius of Branscombe and In My Back Yard is inviting those who would like to use the service to register their interest via their website  or call 01297 680680.

"As soon as we have sufficient numbers in an area, we will start delivering so we're saying to people put your name down as soon as you can and tell your neighbours" said Erin.