This month we’re celebrating Organic September, a month-long campaign by the Soil Association to create awareness around the benefits of organic food and farming, which not only supports biodiversity and wildlife but raises the standards of animal welfare and helps fight climate change. Cornwall produces a wealth of organic produce, found in farm shops and markets up and down the county, but the label ‘organic’ extends well beyond food. From vineyards and skincare products to two of the UK’s best-loved clothing brands — and, of course, some brilliant farm shops and food stores selling organic food and drink — we round up some of our favourite organic places and products, found here in Cornwall.
Food and drink
Farm shops and food stores
There are a number of stores, markets and farm shops selling organic produce in Cornwall. Leading the way is Cusgarne Organic Farm Shop near Truro, where organically reared beef and lamb comes straight from the surrounding 100-acre farm, which has been farmed by the Pascoe family for five generations, converting to organic farming in the 1980s. They also sell a range of organic health food, dairy produce, and toiletries and skincare products.
With its flagship store in Falmouth and a second store in Helston, The Natural Store has an impressive selection of organic products, from wholefoods and store cupboard essentials to organic fruit and veg. Another farm shop that deserves a mention is Cornish Organics near Redruth, a family-run farm shop selling their very own grass fed Aberdeen Angus beef, sourced directly from their Soil Association certified organic farm just moments from the shop. They also operate a organic food box delivery service throughout the UK.
Pasties, cider and ice cream
On the southern banks of the Helford, Gear Farm is an organic farm producing one of Cornwall’s best-loved pasties. Vegetables from the farm’s fields go into their delicious pasties, and you can stock up their organic veg from their roadside stall. Cornwall is home to eight vineyards producing wine and cider, but Trevibban Mill near Padstow on Cornwall’s north coast is the only vineyard whose land is certified organic by the Soil Association. Visitors can stop by for tastings, tours, or to pick up a bottle or two of their award-winning organic still or sparkling cider.
If you’re hankering after ice cream, Roskilly’s on the Lizard Peninsula is a 200-acre working organic farm, home to one of Cornwall’s most popular ice cream parlours; the organic milk from their 100-strong herd of Jersey cows is used for their ice cream, which includes flavours such as Cornish Cream Tea, Lemon Ripple and Gooseberry Yoghurt. There’s also a cafe and restaurant, gift shop, gallery, animals to pet and walking trails in the surrounding woodland.
Discover more shops, delis and farmers’ markets selling organic produce in Cornwall with our shop local guide
Clothing
B Corp-certified clothing brand Finisterre, born and bred in Cornwall and now based in St Agnes on the north coast, has become one of the UK’s best-loved outdoor clothing brands, championing ethical fashion and keeping sustainability at the heart of everything they do, using organic cotton across many of their clothing ranges.
Cornish children’s clothing brand Frugi has won many awards for its focus on sustainability and its ethical principals. Certified by the Soil Association for its use of organic cotton across its entire range of kids’ clothing, the brand, which is based in Helston in south Cornwall, also sells a range of outdoor clothing made from recycled plastic bottles.
Beauty and skincare
Located on the beautiful Trevarno country estate in south Cornwall, Organic Trevarno is the first beauty company to gain organic certification from the Organic Farmers & Growers, the UK’s longest established organic certifying body. The ingredients in their range of skincare are as natural as possible and their impressive ethical standards make this skincare company a pioneer in its field. Another organic offering in skincare comes from The Coconut Bee, which uses 100% natural ingredients in their range of Cornwall-crafted skin and haircare designed for coastal living, such as their Atlantic Face Polish which includes bladderwrack seaweed amongst its ingredients. Their packaging is also plastic-free.
Winning the prestigious ‘Best for the World 2022’ award in the Community category by the ethical accreditation movement B-Corp, every single product by Made For Life Organics is made by hand in Cornwall using herbs, flowers and oils, making sure that everything they use is 100% organic and the provenance of each ingredient is traceable.
