Fruiterer boost for local producers

River Cottage Canteen & Deli is joining forces with Saltash-based Tamar View Fruiterers to create an improved food network to enable small scale producers of fruit and veg to supply seasonal produce to its new canteen kitchen in Plymouth.

River Cottage Canteen & Deli is opening at Royal William Yard next month, and it will be based on the successful River Cottage Canteen & Deli in Axminster, which was originally set up by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Tamar View says the Devon and Cornwall food transport network is a natural development for its business and will enable small scale producers to supply the canteen in an efficient and sustainable way.

“Really this is an extension of the service we already provide,” said MD David Barrett.

“We are passionate about local produce and have 19 vans that travel up and down the country daily from Penzance to Cullompton collecting produce. For River Cottage, it will be very easy for people to call and tell us they have some great fruit or vegetable just ready for eating. We can collect it, bring it to depot, then take it over the Tamar on our daily delivery into River Cottage Canteen kitchens.”