Edge Recruits

Introduction

Edge Recruits is proud to be associated with Riverford Organic Vegetables assisting them to find quality people for their thriving business needs.

Riverford Organic Vegetables www.riverford.co.uk started life in 1986 when Guy Watson started growing vegetables on three acres at the family farm in the River Dart Valley in South Devon. Soil Association organic status was achieved in 1988 and the business has grown rapidly becoming the largest independent producer of organic vegetables in the UK. Riverford employs over 250 staff all involved with growing, picking, packing and distributing. 85 selected varieties from over 1000 acres are harvested and delivered in a way which aims to maximise flavour and makes the most of the growing seasons.

Vegetable Box Scheme - Started in 1993, this has been very successful to the extent that Riverford now supply approximately 30,000 boxes a week to householders across the South of England direct from the farm.

Riverford Farm Dairy & Farm Foods - The farm is also home to two other family businesses. The Farm Dairy achieved full organic certification in 1997, and in 1998 a pasteurisation and packing plant was set up on the farm which supplies milk in litre cartons for all their customers. Farm Foods has gained a strong reputation for its fine pork products, and Ben Watson is kept busy running three Farm Shops at Staverton, Kitley and Totnes. These shops also sell a wide range of Organic & speciality foods and wines.

Riverford Field Kitchen - With young children on the Farm; Guy brought the "Field Kitchen" concept into being. Specially prepared meals are preceded by farm tours. Visitors including customers and school parties are given the opportunity to experience the beautiful Riverford environment whilst being offered the chance to learn how the produce is grown and prepared. Pre-dating Jamie Oliver, Riverford are also proud of the fact that they have been chosen to supply school meals to the local primary school.

South Devon Organic Producers Cooperative - In order to satisfy the growing demand from customers across the UK for top quality organic vegetables at affordable prices, Riverford was instrumental in forming a growers' cooperative. Formed in 1997, the South Devon Organic Producers (SDOP) cooperative now comprises 15 farmers who have converted some of, or their entire farms to organic farming methods. All of the co-op's vegetables come through Riverford's grading and packing barns and are sold under the Riverford brand.

Conservation - The three farm businesses work together to maintain the farmland with long term conservation of the rural environment and its wildlife in mind. The farm has several areas of woodland and has 4 reservoirs which are rapidly attracting more varied wildlife. Riverford is known to be an important part of the feeding grounds for a significant colony of endangered greater horseshoe bats. The farm's low density grazing and maintenance of measures on the farm enhance the existing habitat for the bats and indeed many other species including buzzard, sparrow hawk and hare.

Future Aims - Our strategy is to develop a regional network of farm-based vegetable box schemes. This will involve setting up 8 new regional farms as joint venture compaines, each growing, packing and distributing vegetables using the Riverford model, with a certain number of franchises attached to each region. The first regional venture has been launched near Peterborough under a new "sister" brand, River Nene, closely affiliated to Riverford and sharing a website, design style and marketing. The second regional farm, River Swale is in Yorkshire, a third, Riverford at Norton is in Hampshire and our most recent venture is Riverford at Stockley based in Cheshire.