“Food combines the issues for our health, our environment, and our economy. It connects all three in a really powerful and impactful way,” says Lucy Jones, co-founder of Cornish Food Box. At the heart of Padstow Christmas Fayre, with the town full of festive lights, local flavours, and bustling markets, her message feels especially relevant: the choices we make about food affect everyone – from producers to the plates of the people who enjoy it.
Lucy isn’t talking only about what’s on our plates, but how it gets there, who grows it, and whether they are paid fairly for their work. In her garden, kale, fresh herbs, and edible flowers grow together in a self-sustaining way, reflecting the philosophy behind Cornish Food Box: local, natural, and practical. The company brings together farmers, fishermen, and producers from across Cornwall, creating a marketplace where freshness, quality, and sustainability are at the centre.
“Supermarkets have a huge stranglehold on what we buy and how producers are paid, taking up 97% of the market,” Lucy explains. “They’ve created unrealistic expectations around appearance, and built a culture where low prices matter more than high-quality food. It’s not a system that works for consumers or farmers.” For Lucy, it’s also about what’s in the food we reach for because it’s convenient. Ultra-processed foods, she says, are at the heart of a public health crisis. “In the UK, food-related illness costs £268 billion a year. Convenience has come at the expense of nutrition, particularly for lower-income families.”
Cornwall has some of the most exceptional produce in the world, especially its seafood. “We catch around 50 species here, but we only eat five. Eighty percent of our fish is exported to Europe. Meanwhile, imported fish is often caught unsustainably. Food should be rooted in its place and the people who grow it,” Lucy says.
Cornish Food Box was born in 2010 out of this belief. Lucy and her sister Tor, who grew up on a dairy farm near Helston, wanted to build something meaningful that strengthened Cornwall’s economy, ensured fairness for producers, and brought fresh ingredients directly to people’s tables. “Tor was already connected to local farmers through markets, and I’m a foodie. We started by delivering bread locally, then butter, then bacon. It just evolved from there.” The Box offered an alternative to supermarkets and farmers markets – convenient, flexible, and focused on quality.
The service has grown, now bringing together some of Cornwall’s finest products: Keith Wickett’s chicken, Primrose Herd pork, Vicky’s bread, Rodda’s milk – all from producers Lucy and Tor know personally. Customers across the UK, from Falmouth to Edinburgh, can order Cornish hog’s pudding, fresh fish, or herbs grown locally by the Kehelland Trust, who supply chef demos at Porthleven Food Festival this year. Lucy emphasizes, “You could order directly from all these producers, but bringing them together created a complete, old-fashioned marketplace.”
She sees hope in small, everyday choices. “Each person has the power to change where they spend their money. Shifting even a fraction of your weekly shop to local food can ripple out – benefiting health, producers, and food security. One in four jobs in Cornwall depends on food and drink. If every household spent £10 a week on Cornish produce, we’d raise £130 million for the local economy.”
The Cornish Food Box philosophy is simple: fewer hands in the process, traceable sources, and support for those doing it right. “It’s not about perfection. It’s about small changes that make a difference. Spend a little more locally, eat food grown nearby, and help build a system that can sustain itself.”
This Christmas, as Padstow Christmas Fayre brings together festive markets, family activities, and local culinary talent, Cornish Food Box is a reminder that ethical, local, and sustainable food doesn’t have to be complicated. Supporting local producers, choosing real ingredients, and celebrating the season with Cornish flavours is not just good for the community – it’s a way to enjoy the very best of the festive season.