Organic veg farm sends food aid to flooded farmers and villagers in Somerset

Farmers and villagers stranded on the Somerset Levels are eating a little better this week, thanks to food aid delivered in the form of organic vegboxes from Riverford.

The villages of Muchelney and Thorney have been cut off by floods for almost nine weeks, with water over a metre deep in places.

It’s too much for the Riverford vans to cope with, but thanks to a Unimog operated by Suffolk Fire & Rescue, regular deliveries of organic fruit and vegboxes are making it through.

Riverford’s founding farmer, Guy Watson says:P “The belief that good food should be available to everyone is central to the ethos of Riverford, so we were shocked to hear that some families had been unable to get fresh produce for over a week at a time. Having seen the exceptionally difficult situation the communities on the Somerset Levels are going through, we’re delighted to be able to help out in this small way.”

The donations are being co-ordinated by the Farm Community Network (previously called the Farm Crisis Network) which is working on the ground with affected Somerset communities and fire services from across the country, who are providing the specialist vehicles for emergency access.