Organic vegbox producer bags national award for positive rural action (From Smallholder)

Organic vegbox producer bags national award for positive rural action

9:30am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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~ A ‘turnip’ for the books for Riverford Organic Vegetables in BITC Awards for Excellence ~ Riverford Organic Vegetables has been crowned victor in Business in the Community’s (BITC) Northern Foods Rural Action Award, supported by the Commission for Rural Communities. The South West company was presented with the Example of Excellence by HRH The Prince of Wales at a garden reception at his home, Clarence House, today.

The Northern Foods Rural Action Award, supported by the Commission for Rural Communities, recognises and rewards companies that are having an outstanding, positive impact on rural communities. The Award plays a valuable role in showcasing exemplar best practice in business engagement in rural areas in order to inspire and encourage activity to help secure a sustainable future for the British countryside.

Riverford Organic Vegetables is a family owned business which grows, packs and delivers organic vegetables to 50,000 households a week. The company has developed a profitable model of vegetable production and distribution that provides an alternative route to market with greater returns and long term security for small scale producers, thus helping to redress the decline of UK horticulture and support rural communities.

Riverford has spread the impact of this by rolling out its model of grower cooperatives to five regions, supporting more than 40 growers across the country, including Devon, Peterborough, Yorkshire, Hampshire and Cheshire. The success of this model is down to balancing the interests of stakeholders, building long term relationships with growers, keeping scale appropriate, and taking steps to educate consumers about the origins of the produce they buy.

Riverford has achieved a 20-30% growth of supplier groups per annum; developed a secure market giving growers the confidence to invest in their business; unbeatably fresh produce and enhanced flavour (40% customers cite flavour as reason for buying from Riverford); and reduced food miles and waste for environmentally-conscious consumers.

Chair of Judges, Paula Widdowson, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Northern Foods, said: “Northern Foods is proud to sponsor the Rural Action Award to continue to promote and inspire the positive impact of business in rural areas. As Chair of the Judging Panel, I wholeheartedly congratulate Riverford Organics for the achievement of the Example of Excellence. They have a leadership and management team with a clear vision and a compelling business model which goes to the heart of the community and its stakeholders. The judges were particularly impressed with the way in which Riverford has developed real, vibrant partnerships which have made a real difference to individuals, business partners and customers and created a new way for the farmer to make a sustainable living.”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive, Business in the Community, said: “Riverford has shown that thinking globally and acting locally can have a major positive impact on a business. Their model not only promotes local produce and employment, but directly engages consumers on the important issues of food miles, sustainability and the growing process. I would like to congratulate them for winning the Example for Excellence in the Northern Foods Rural Action category. They have shown true innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in their determination to develop a replicable model across the country, and bring life back to a sector that has previously endured periods of significant decline.”