SOUTH EAST

BILL’S PRODUCE STORE
Lewes, East Sussex (01273 476918) and Brighton (01273 692894; www.billsproducestore.co.uk)

Accolades have been heaped on Bill’s two stores (each with its own café), which are bursting with fresh produce, flowers and cakes. “We like to make the store into a farmers’ market every day,” says Bill, who sources as much as possible from local growers. “Even if they bring us just four pounds of brilliant runner beans, we’ll sell them for them.”

RINGDEN FARM

Etchingham, East Sussex (01580 879385; www.ringdenfarm.co.uk)

Specialises in juice from 23 varieties of apple and six varieties of pear. You can buy juices made from specific apples, the taste ranging from dry to medium sweet. The farm also produces blended juices. Apples and other local fruit and vegetables are sold.

SECRETTS OF MILFORD
Godalming, Surrey (01483 520500; www.secretts.co.uk)

Suppliers of fruit and vegetables and about 35 varietes of salad leaf to leading restaurants. You can buy from the farm shop, flower shop or garden centre and have lunch at the restaurant or tea shop. Speciality salad leaves can be sent out mail order all year round, along with asparagus in season.

SOUTH WEST

BROWN COW ORGANICS
Perridge Farm, Shepton Mallet, Somerset (01749 890298; www.browncoworganics.co.uk)

As well as meat, Brown Cow sends out organic vegetables and fruit, grown on its own and local farms, topped up with fair-trade produce. You can order boxes with their choice of produce, or individual fruit and veg.

THE DORSET BLUEBERRY COMPANY
(01202 891426; www.dorset-blueberry.com)

Jennifer Trehane’s family has been growing blueberries since 1959 and it is constantly experimenting with new varieties. You can buy its produce, some of which is organic, in season at M&S, farmers’ markets, shops throughout Hampshire and Borough Market in London. Jams, juices, sauces and pies are available online and you can also buy bushes to grow.

JEKKA’S HERB FARM
Alveston, Bristol (01454 418878; www.jekkasherbfarm.com)

Jekka McVicar grows hundreds of varieties of herbs on her organic farm near Bristol. Pots of herbs are available mail order, or you can buy seeds.

ROD AND BENS, BICKHAM FARM
Exeter, Devon (01392 833833; www.rodandbens.com)

Friends Rod Hall and Ben Moseley met at agricultural college and teamed up to launch a box scheme based at Bickham Farm. They supply their own vegetables, salads herbs and fruit, calling in additional produce from other local organic farms when necessary.

EAST ANGLIA

CRAPES FRUIT FARM
Aldham, nr Colchester, Essex (01206 212375)
Andrew Tann is renowned for his apples. He grows 150 varieties at his 15-acre orchard and they are sent out to mail-order customers in mixed boxes, which vary as the season progresses. He also sells cherries, plums, quinces and medlars.

PARK FRUIT FARM
Great Holland,nr Frinton-on-Sea, Essex (01255 674621; www.parkfruitfarm.co.uk)
The Elsworth family grows 55 varieties of fruit, including 40 types of apple. Plums, damsons and pears can all be bought by mail order. Raspberries and blackberries are available from the farm shop, as is the farm-pressed apple juice and locally grown vegetables. Visitors can also pick their own fruit.

NORTH EAST

CARROLL’S HERITAGE POTATOES
Tiptoe Farm, Northumberland (01890 883060; www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk)

Lucy and Anthony Carroll grow a large selection of heritage potato varieties, ranging from Shetland Black to British Queen, which can be bought by mail order. The Carrolls have LEAF accreditation and use pesticides only when necessary. They have also developed their own heritage seed collection and will soon be selling seeds, as well as the potatoes, online.

YORKSHIRE ORCHARDS
White House Farm, Wilberfoss, York (01759 380375 www.yorkshireorchards.co.uk)

More than 150 varieties of apple, which can be sent mail order. You can even “rent” a “managed” tree: they do the work then send you the fruit.

WALES

FUNGI FORAYS
Powys (01597 811168; www.fungiforays.co.uk)

If you would like to pick wild mushrooms but are nervous about distinguishing the edible from the poisonous, Daniel Butler will put you right. He runs two-day forays in the Elan Valley and is gearing up to offer mushrooms by mail order.

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