Healthy eating helped farmer Nathan Gilmore loose three stone and inspired him to offer busy families easy, on line access to farm fresh vegetables delivered to their homes.

The third generation growing vegetables on the family farm near Newtownards Nathan founded ‘Farmbox’ to supply fresh produce direct to homes within 20 miles of fields tilled by Gilmores for over 60 years.

“Like many growers my father, William, and I concentrated on producing quality produce, but leaving others to handle the business of supplying consumers,” Nathan explained.

“Then we heard about the Supply Chain Development Programme, an EU initiative delivered by Countryside Services. This very practical programme proved ideal in allowing us to tap into a lot of professional advice, much of if from our facilitator Valerie Brown of True Channel.

“Her expertise and enthusiasm proved invaluable in building Farmbox as a largely web based, Northern Ireland business linking our farming enterprises with consumers.
“The initial response to our website www.farmboxni.co.uk was phenomenal as young families, pensioners and sports enthusiasts all want to eat healthy and eat local produce. Yet they are short of one key commodity – time to shop for local fresh produce!

“However by using Farmbox they can have their vegetables of choice needed for a week of healthy family eating delivered to the family home. For example, our medium Farmbox, costing under £20, includes a range of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli, Savoy cabbage, turnip, onions and mushrooms. All supplied straight from our farmyard to homes across North Down and Greater Belfast!”

Like many food producers, who used the Supply Chain Development Programme, Nathan Gilmore has found offering customers an ever wider range of products grows a business fast.

“One of the many lessons I have learned since our Farmbox supply chain initiative was launched is that fresh vegetables can be turned into an enjoyable meal quickly.
“At the same time our customers have learned that a reliable, farm based service offers them a time saving source of vegetables with the true flavour of Co Down. Many parents taking pleasure in pointing out that the greens their children now enjoy come from the in view nearby slopes of Scrabo!”

To select a week long supply of local vegetables and meat to appear at your kitchen door browse www.farmboxni.co.uk, phone (028) 9182 8401 or email info@farmboxni.co.uk

Pictured - Ards vegetable grower Nathan Gilmore, seen here with Emma Murphy, left, and Sarah Gilmore, has lost 3 stone and grown a new business by moving down the supply gain to connect with health conscious consumers.