THE market for organically-grown food delivered to people's homes is growing at an even-faster rate than our economy. Take for example John McCormick of Holywood, Co Down, and his company Holywood Organic Foods (HOF).
Farmer Mr McCormick and Nicola Monk, who organises the home delivery system for HOF, have seen their box delivery scheme expand from £100 worth of sales each week a year ago to £1,000 now. Ms Monk says their customers fall into distinct groups: "Young families; the elderly who remember how food used to be; those with food sensitivities; and those who just love their food.'
As well as its own produce, Holywood Organic Foods now offers imported organic vegetables and fruit. It also sells dry goods, all of organic standard, including the following: flour, baby food, pasta, teas, coffee, eggs and baked beans.
There are now deliveries on Thursday and Friday in Belfast, Bangor, Holywood and Lisburn, and the company is looking at other areas. Boxes cost from £6 per week, and the variety offered, even at this time of the year, is most impressive: lots of root vegetables, fennel, spinach, Chinese leaves, a range of fruit, bio-dynamically produced cheese, and fine wholemeal breads.
. For details, call Nicola Monk on 0801247456873 (it's a busy line, but do persist).