Lucy Siegle 

Where to buy your bread, fish and cheese

Lucy Siegle sources the best green producers in Britain
  
  


Fish
As wild fish cannot be categorised as organic, because nobody is sure what chemicals it contains, organic fish is farmed. However this is done in a way which prohibits the use of most chemicals, dyes and tiny cages. Purely Organic's Trout from Deverill 's trout farm is highly rated,not least by Rick Stein. ( www.purelyorganic.co.uk tel:01985 841093) The water comes from artesian springs in the Wiltshire chalk hills, and flows through organic watercress beds and the smoked fillet version is available through the Organic Farmers Market, www.organicfarmers-market.co.uk which specialises in organic produce from the West Country.

Basics
Stock up on basics such as stock cubes from Kallo, organic raisins ( www.goodnessdirect.co.uk ) and brown organic rice from food co-operative Suma ( www.suma.co.uk ).Doves Farm ( www.dovesfarm.co.uk) has organic flour (including a gluten-free range),breakfast cereals, biscuits and breakfast bars.

Herbs & spice
Jamie Oliver gets his seasoning from Jekka's Herb Farm in Bristol ( www.jekkasherbfarm.com ). Steenbergs ( www.steenbergs.co.uk 01423 326 563) also has a great range of organic spices including lavender to scent custards. And Halzephron Herb Farm, who grow the herbs organically in Cornwall have just opened a shop in St Ives ( www.halzherb.com ).

Cheese
If you've been to Tom Aikens in Chelsea then you've eaten Wootton organic produce - Aikens used to work for the Bamfords who own Wootton Organic Dairy ( www.theorganicfarmersmarket.co.uk or direct, tel: 01749 890248). The 2004 Soil Association award winner, their three best- selling sheep cheeses are Little Ryding, Big Ryding and Shepherds Crook. These are not for the faint-hearted. They have a rich unpasturised flavour, are mould ripened and often 'flow ' as they mature. Llanboidy Cheese is another award winner from Wales - made with milk from Red Poll cows ( www.llanboidycheese.co.uk or 01994 448 303).

Chocolate
Kylie's favourite, Green and Blacks, will launch Maya Gold hot chocolate next month. Montezuma has amazing fair trade truffles ( www.montezumas.co.uk tel:01243 537 385).

Bread Duchy Originals (founded by Prince Charles) produces really delicious 'light' organic bread ( www.duchyoriginals.com , available at Waitrose).The Village Bakery ( www.village-bakery.com tel:01768 881 811) has its own gluten-free kitchen, running off renewable energy. Percys is an organic hotel in Devon ( www.percys.co.uk ) but its bread and chocolate tart is now available nationwide courtesy of the Organic Farmers Market www.organicfarmersmarket.com ).

Healthy drinking
David Gladwin of Black Isle Brewery (01463 811 871)has deliberately packaged his organic beer to dispel the image of 'tepee dwellers living off brown rice and lentils '. And for a handy directory for all things organic worldwide from sheets to shoots, go to Links Organic ( info@linksorganic.com). Founder, Jane Meyer, is inspirational.

· Lucy Siegle writes a weekly Ethical Living column in OM

 

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