Changes at Staverton

The newly extended shop now offers a spacious meat counter area, a large deli counter with fresh bread shelves and olive et al self-serve table of goodies. The vegetable and fruit section is heaving with all that's best, in season and local. And...

The espresso coffee machine at Staverton is finally up and running. It’s what you might call a very soft take off on the hospitality front because the one thing I don’t want is to change the nature and feel of the shop. So many places have become destinations for a day out and lost sight of the ‘reason for being’ a farm shop in the first place, which I would have thought was to sell produce, off the farm, or from other local producers. The synergy between farm shops and enormous cafeterias escapes me, so to start with, we have the picnic tables, teas and coffees, and whatever you want from the deli counter. We will try a few barbecues through the summer and see how it goes but we will always be a farm shop first.

This was our first farm shop and has now been open for 27 years!

The shop itself was bursting at the seams so we have made some major changes and think you will now find it light and airy. Saying that, the customers (many of whom have been shopping here since we began in 1984) seemed to love it that way, but now we have the space to offer much more of what's best and local.

You will find just about everything you could possibly imagine, and Deborah and her staff are keen to help you with ideas on how to use it. Ask one of the butchers which would be the best cut of meat to use in a particular recipe, and he will be pleased to give you his advice. We have a good sized car park, and an outdoor seating area where you can enjoy a great coffee and a cake or pastry from our deli counter. With some luck and warm weather we may also have the occasional barbecue out there. You will not find anything over-packaged, over-priced or over-processed here but you will find real, local, organic food and drink.

People do drive from miles around to visit us. They have even been known to ask estate agents to find them houses nearby; because we were forcing house prices up we thought we had better open another shop elsewhere! Hence you will find us in Totnes (Riverford goes to Town) and also at our very spacious Kitley shop (where we are able to offer our customers a cracking Riverford breakfast in our Riverford Café).

Facilities: Car Park, Toilet, Bottle Bank, Picnic Area, Disabled Access