Local Farm Fresh Delivery

An article that looks at the critical flaws in the food supply system in the UK features a farmer that seems to have gone back to basics to move his business forward. Stuck by the overt control of the British supermarkets, James Hague set up a website for his Daisy’s Dairy and decided to go direct:

James Hague runs the award-winning Daisy’s Dairy at Hook in Hampshire, and is pioneering a mainstream yet localised food supply. ‘Supermarkets have had the food supply sewn up,’ he says. ‘The only way for farmers to make any money these days, or to have any security, is to take control of all aspects of their businesses.’

Hague operates his own doorstep delivery service to 1,400 households within a 25-mile radius. And he has just taken over a nearby organic farm to grow his own winter cereals as a buffer against rising feed and fertiliser costs. Daisy’s milk is surprisingly competitive at 45p a pint. ‘I don’t want it to be a “niche” product,’ Hague says. ‘The key thing is that we can produce and deliver healthy, better-tasting food at an affordable price.’ The Daisy’s Dairy concept has taken off to such an extent that he is in the process of franchising it all over the country.

Sure. It doesn’t sound like a new idea - but it’s an interesting example of small firms going local to improve their business.

Joanna Blythman investigates the pending crisis now that food prices are soaring | Food and drink | Life and Health