Where to buy?

In the column on the right we highlight some of Manchester's most pioneering grocers and food retailers , some of which have received national recognition for the quality and freshness of their produce.

There are of course many other examples, Manchester Friends of the Earth have produced a "Real Food Guide" to help you find the best grocers and restaurants selling seasonal and local vegetables in your area.

Veg box schemes

Veg boxes can be the easiest way of getting your hands on the freshest seasonal fruit and vegetables, they are literally a box (or bag) of vegetables delivered to your home. It often comes direct from the grower.

This means that you'll be eating food that was harvested in the last few days, rather than six weeks ago, which is often the case with supermarket fruit and vegetables.

The main idea behind a vegetable box scheme is that you are supporting the local farmers directly, helping them earn a fair price for their produce, whilst cutting your own costs.

Most vegetable boxes are organic. But it's important to check this with the supplier, before you commit, if that's something that's important to you.

Farmers Markets

ASHTON UNDER LYNE - Market Hall, last Sunday of each month.

ALTRINCHAM - Market Street, 8am-2pm, First Friday of each month.

MANCHESTER - Piccadilly Gardens, 10am-6pm 2nd & 4th Fri & Sat of each month.

NORTHENDEN - Palatine Road 10m-4pm, first Saturday of the month.

OLDHAM - Saddleworth Museum, High Street, Uppermill, 9am-2pm, 2nd Sunday of each month.

WIGAN - Wigan Outdoor Market, The Galleries, New Market Street, 8.30am-3.30pm, 1st Tuesday of each month.

Local Pioneering Food Enterprises

HERBIE - A mobile greengrocer for East Manchester, customers can walk on board and choose from a good range of affordable fresh produce. They also supply boxes of fruit to schools and work closely with local sheltered housing, churches, health clinics and resident groups to offer their service to as many people as possible.

Unicorn Grocery - South Manchester's favourite grocer, has been getting national attention recently after winning national prizes (both by the Observer newspaper and BBC Radio 4) as the best local grocer. Around 70 lines of organic fruit and veg represent our region and beyond, at prices accessible to all.

Glebelands Market Garden - A pioneering urban growing project on the banks of the Mersey in Sale, producing organic food for consumption within Greater Manchester. Crops are cut and sold at Unicorn Grocery – just 3 miles away – on the same day. Glebelands use well-established techniques such as on site composting, crop rotation and green manure crops to maintain soil fertility and plant health, but also more cutting edge techniques to extend the season where-ever possible.

Eighth Day Co-op – Manchester’s original co-operative health food and café, located on Oxford Road and selling a wide range of healthy, local and sustainable food.

Local fruit and veg delivery

Dig - Manchester's newest box scheme, Dig delivers to Central and South Manchester.
Northern Choice Organics - An organic delivery service for north Manchester, Bolton, Bury and Rochdale.
Limited Resources - A Manchester favourite for over ten years, they give you the chance to support local farmers with their "growers choice" and "local veg" box options.
Mossley Organic and Fine Foods - Providing a large range of local produce to local people for over twenty-five years, they provide a delivery service to Tameside, Glossop, Oldham, Saddleworth and Marsden.