Organic is at the core of everything River Cottage does. Their farm carries organic certification accredited by the Soil Association and is managed under Countryside and Environmental Stewardship; schemes run by Natural England.

These schemes help land managers look after natural habitats and biodiversity, in co-operation with food production. River Cottage grows high-quality organic fruit and vegetables, all year round, on 1.5 acres of the farm which provides a wide variety of produce for their kitchen.

It's no secret that Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a champion of organic and it's something that has been ingrained into River Cottage for many years.

“Organic is really important to us here at River Cottage - it's how we raise our livestock, how we grow all of our produce and it's at the heart of all our cooking and teaching. We love to show people how to cook and eat sustainably and affordably with organic produce. We're also incredibly proud of our growing range of delicious organic products.” said Hugh. 

Provenance is something the River Cottage chefs care passionately about and if you attend one of their cookery courses, you will learn where your ingredients came from and a little about why they believe eating seasonally and sustainably is not only important but also tastes better.

“Organic food is so important, not only because of the environmental positives but also because the flavours are so much better! Growing organic veg and rearing organic meat also gives me the peace of mind that we are leaving the soil healthy for future generations to farm.” said Gelf Alderson, Culinary Director.

He continues: “Organic fruit and veg tend to be heritage varieties, as they need to be hardier. Although a little slower growing, I find they are not only way more interesting, but also tastier!” 

River Cottage believes growing your own veg has the power to change your life. In these times of intensive farming, with reliance on harmful pesticides, having a detrimental effect on our environment, people need to be more reliant on their own patches of safe soil.

Head Gardener, Adam Crofts adds: "I don't see any other way but to grow organically. After all, it's how nature intended. Using man-made chemicals and artificial fertiliser on our food is completely unnecessary, and harmful. It's destroying our collective health, as well as stripping our lands and nature of biodiversity. The only winners are the big agricultural companies, who have made people believe this is the only way and have become reliant on them. Sadly it's all about money for them. It's important to remember that people used to grow food just fine before the invention of these petroleum-based products. The question shouldn't be 'Why do you grow organically?' but, rather 'Why wouldn't you grow organically?'”

The River Cottage gardening courses teach people the importance of looking after soil health and provide students with lots of other organic tips and tricks, encouraging them to start growing organic veg at home.

Those who want to learn about organic and truly immerse themselves in the world of organic growing and cooking can book one of the experiences at River Cottage HQ. 

Those who want to try some of the River Cottage produce, drop by the new Kitchen & Store which is located a stone's throw from the River Cottage Farmhouse (aka River Cottage HQ). Open 9am-5pm, seven days a week, with breakfast served 9am-11.30am and lunch served 12pm-3pm, the casual, dog-friendly space is the perfect spot to drop by - on foot, bike or by car - for a bite to eat and enjoy incredible views from the large outdoor terrace or light and airy interior. The adjoining store offers visitors the chance to shop River Cottage products and books. 

To keep up to date with the latest River Cottage news, visit www.rivercottage.net, find Hugh and the team on Instagram (rivercottagehq), Facebook (rivercottagehq), Twitter (@rivercottage), Pinterest (rivercottagehq) and YouTube (River Cottage).

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Notes to Editor

For more information or high res images, please contact Hanna China:

hanna@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk | 07702 031956

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall first brought his famous food ethos to Channel 4 in 1999. He is committed to seasonal, organic, ethically produced food and protecting the environment.

Over the years he has fronted hard-hitting campaigns such as Hugh's Fish Fight, which brought changes in fisheries law at European level; Hugh's War on Waste; Chicken Out!, to achieve better welfare for millions of chickens in the UK; Britain's Fat Fight, tackling the national obesity crisis; and War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita.

Since the first show, Hugh has published 14 cookbooks, including The River Cottage Cookbook, River Cottage Meat Book, and River Cottage Veg Everyday. His new book, River Cottage Good Comfort, has just been released.

River Cottage HQ is a food lovers' destination, found on the Devon and Dorset border. This is the base for the Cookery School, unique dining experiences, B&B accommodation and memorable events.

The newly launched Kitchen & Store at River Cottage HQ serves breakfast, lunch, drinks and cakes, along with incredible views. Open seven days a week, you can also pop into the store to buy River Cottage products and books. 

River Cottage stands for food integrity and shares its passion for local, seasonal organic produce with its community across the globe.