The Watsons and Riverford - one family, four businesses

The Watson family has farmed the 350 hectare Riverford Farm for nearly 50 years, more than twenty of which have been spent working to bring back the taste and quality of traditional foods through the farm shop with its butchery, bakery and kitchens, the organic vegetable box business and the organic dairy.

All are separate businesses but have much in common. As well as name and locality a shared belief in quality, unadulterated, fresh food makes the name Riverford stand for far more than just organic.

Out of five children, four, Louise (Farm), Ben (Shop), Oliver (Farm and Dairy) and Guy (Organic Vegetable Boxes) are actively involved in the farm or its associated businesses. The great patriarch, John Watson, though supposedly retired, is still actively involved in the farm and farm shop.

Twenty years ago, organics was barely a seed in the public’s mind. It certainly had no legal definition. So, Riverford concentrated on quality, value, additive free, unadulterated and simple food production, low food miles, fair trade etc. Since then nothing has changed. If something is certified, so much the better, but it must also satisfy other criteria. Often the magic word 'organic' is not enough. For example we try not to sell ove-processed, production line, organic food but we do sell spanking fresh, non-organic vegetables from a grower just down the road.

What we like most is to produce foods ourselves from start to finish - from farm to table, the Riverford way. Food should tell a story and, because we know what it is, we can tell you.

All this amounts to the Riverford Mission:

To provide fresh, unadulterated food, produced without damaging the environment, selling certifiably organic products wherever possible.

To make shopping at Riverford a pleasurable and educational experience.

To provide a service that meets our customers’ expectations, needs and requirements.

To be a good employer, training and developing a satisfied skilled and motivated team.

To provide food at prices affordable by customers with a real interest in good, healthy food.

To trade fairly with our customers and suppliers and wherever possible promote fair trade with the Third World.

To trade profitably with integrity.

To develop the business in a proactive manner in order to meet whatever demands might arise.

To contribute constructively to the local community.