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.
Schedule
Tuesday 16th May, 11am to 3pm, The Organic Pantry
11:00am
Arrive at St Helens Farm. Tea/coffee and introductions.
11:20
Farm tour guided by Jonny Watson the farmer.
What we will see:
- Firstly, we will walk to the polytunnels
- Further down the field we will see the green kale, spring crops, cauliflower and broccoli which they will have started picking. Broad beans have also been planted which we will see, these are not yet ready to be picked at the time of the visit.
- Jonny will talk about the new woodland that is being planted and 2km of new hedging, how this will benefit the wildlife on the farm.
- Brief history of the farm as we are walking along the field hedge lines
- Jonny will talk about the farm’s target which is to be carbon neutral, and how they aim to do this
- Finally, when we get back to the farmyard we will have a look in the packing house, where the potatoes are prepared and packaged ready for delivery, and from where they run their box scheme with orders coming through that the staff are preparing.
12:50
Lunch and discussion led by Iain Robertson, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and Kushboo Naik, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Co-Chairs of the Love British Food Hospitals Working Group.
The working lunch and discussion will comprise of:
- An Overview of the Love British Food Hospitals Working Group: why it was set up, aims, activities and how you can get involved.
- Update on the work of the Hospital Food Review: Phil Shelley, Chair of NHS Food Review and the Senior Operational & Policy Manager NHS E&I and Tim Radcliffe, Net Zero Food Programme Manager NHS England.
- How dietitians can get involved and why it is so important they do: Kushboo Naik
- Opportunities that NHS Supply Chain’s new Dynamic Procurement framework offer for sourcing from SMEs: Kirsten Morris, Head of Commercial, NHS Supply Chain: Food
15:00
Book now
To cover the farm’s costs, please may we ask for a £20 contribution to lunch on the day. An expenses receipt will be issued.
The Organic Pantry Booking
Location
The Organic Pantry
St Helens Farm
Rudgate
Tadcaster
Yorkshire
LS24 9LY