This is a lovely little family run shop. The staff are all very knowledgeable about the products…read morethey stock. Inside it is a very clean, well lit shop with nice shelving all the way around. It is the perfect place to go for an affordable gift for someone who is a little under the weather or for a natural remedy for life's little aches and pains. They even sell organic fruit and veg at a very reasonable price (a lot of items are cheaper here than in the supermarkets) So for a bit of friendly chat at advice, I can't recommend a better place.

This place is totally bursting with impeccable organic and localvore credentials!…read more Manic Organic is a Soil Association-accredited organic grower with a shop in a converted outbuilding of their farm. The outbuilding seemed to be unheated during our midwinter visit, with a cheerful, fresh-faced lass in boots and woolly hat there to serve us. As well as their own produce - fresh and muddy from the fields of Scarisbrick - Manic also buy in mainly local organic produce to complement what they grow themselves. I had no trouble at all spending £20 on squash, celeriac, quince, mixed salad leaves, etc. Everything is top quality and also super-fresh, everything one would hope from buying organic and local. Prices seemed very reasonable. Manic also stock a variety of organic dry and tinned goods and more stuff in display fridges. I feel this is what the world needs, organic farms with friendly shops everywhere, not just in the odd right-on neighbourhood such as Chorlton or Hebden Bridge. Manic Organic take a bow - I will do all I can to support this place in the coming year and encourage my friends to do likewise.

Halloween needs pumpkins. Fact. What better pumpkins than…read moreorganic?? I know - super priced organic pumpkins in a selection you could never imagine! This fabulous little secret called Manic Organic can be found on the main road between Ormskirk and Southport, only visible by a sign that said "Farm Shop" a sign that always makes me scream 'turn in, turn in'. This little beaut had about 8 varieties of pumpkins and squash in various sizes, shapes and colours, so we picked a baby organic normal pumpkin and a red hokkaido squash that we have just made soup from and it was amazing! While we were in there we picked up a few kitchen essentials (organic) and were pleasantly surprised by the selection of organic produce available to buy on a chilly autumn day. It cost £1.95 for two pumpkins, an apple and a lime, all organic (in case I haven't mentioned already). BARGAIN. So we piked up a few more bits. Note...the Green and Blacks cocoa powder is about half the price in here as it is in a supermarket!

Not far from Irby in the Wirral sits this homely and very British farm shop. My love for farm shops…read moreis very transparent. I have always been fond of family run independent business'. There is a sense of good old fashioned warmth and personality to places like this. Here you can find home grown fresh organic vegetables and in the summer asparagus. What they can't provide on this farm they source from other local farmers to make sure that whatever you buy here is still very much local. The deli counter ooozes with a big selection of tasty treats, cheese, fresh olives and antipasti to name but a few. A trained butcher is at hand on the meat counter to discuss your plans for dinner and advise you accordingly. All other goodies such as foodie gifts, heavenly cakes, fat puddings, luxury groceries, plentiful vegetable boxes amongst other things are available for your foodie loving tummies. This is definitely a place for all those who love food. They are proactive and are very receptive towards suggestions as to new things they should stock. Not that the selection available right now is shabby at all. Good to see this forward thinking mentality, shows they really do care about what they are doing and there is a passion that goes behind the whole operation. They stock is however substantial with one condition, it has to taste fantabulous!!!!!! Oh yes please.....You really have put little Thurstaston on the map.....(Yes I know its difficult to say!!)

Church Farm is really very very good. An organic working farm, with friendly animals and a play…read morearea including a maze, go-karts, slides and a sandpit. There is a farm shop selling home-grown and locally produced organic fruit and vegetables - they were Winner of 2009 Wirral Tourism Award, and 2009 North West Fine Food award for Best Vegetable (asparagus). Plus there is the cosy Munch coffee shop - I could have stayed in here for hours. There is a charge to go around the farm, but the kids will love it and get the opportunity to feed a goat, ride on a tractor and take a walk. At the right time of year, the farm offers Easter Egg Hunts, Santa Experience events and at Halloween the bloodchilling Scareshow. If you are looking for a venue for a children's party, then look no further. Church Farm also hosts educational visits, tailored to each school's curriculum.

My sister and I have Riverford vegetables (and occasionally the fruit and meat baskets) delivered…read moreto our door every week. All the produce is certified organic and varies from week to week depending what's in season on the farm. I love this idea - firstly that you're eating seasonally and having to think about ways to prepare your vegetables, but also because I think it's pretty reasonable for getting organic produce to door. David at the farm has been very helpful with our deliveries which arrive every Thursday. You can check online what you'll be recieving as well. For £10.85 we'll be eating Robinta potatoes, spinach, sweetcorn, red kabacha squash, salad pack, cherry tomatoes and romanesco cauliflower. You can also add individual items to your delivery as well as pantry items, soups, home-made soft drinks, wines and beers. Love it.

Hmmm. Honest to goodness, what? Honest to goodness these things really work, or honest to goodness…read morethese are real plants that grow in the woods? Geez. I'm not big on herbal remedies. But if you are, this place is wall-to-wall herbs, and they don't mind trying to charge you a fair bit for a little bottle of something that may or may not actually do anything. Just a thought.

Clearly Megan has never been to Honest to Goodness, this shop is not a shop selling wall to wall…read moreherbs, it sells ethical (honest) vegan wholefoods. Megan you really shouldn't be reviewing shops you have never been to as it could mislead people.

Parbold Fruit & Veg is a greengrocers owned and managed by the Italian-English Patitucci family. I…read morehighly recommend this place - I buy most of my fresh produce from here. Delivery is free of charge within a five mile radius, or you can visit the shop. The 'shop' is a 'no-frills' affair, a double garage at the rear of the Patitucci family home. So you can rest assured that you are not paying through the nose for expensive premises - no, sir! Their produce is of four grades - Regular, Local, Organic and Paolo's. 'Paolo's' denotes produce grown in the greenhouses and market gardens to the rear of the garage - as far as I know, I would consider it a sort of 'uncertified organic' as my information is that Paolo does not use chemical pesticides, etc. Paolo is the grandfather of the family, who moved from southern Italy to Lancashire in 1955, and is as devoted a market gardener as you could hope to find. Here is an article I found about Paolo Patitucci in the local newspaper http://www.osadvertiser.co.uk/news/ormskirk-news/2009/09/10/parbold-gardener-paulo-patitucci-s-back-with-his-gigantic-green-beans-80904-24645160/ So basically, all the fruit and vegetables are at least good quality, with a lot of it winning extra brownie points for being local and fresh. Plus, with Paolo's characterful vegetables and herbs, and additional organic market produce, the super-healthy niche market is well catered for. They also stock a nice selection of organic delicatessen items, plus homemade jams, etc. The business side of things is now run by Paolo's son Vince, who is another fantastic gentleman. From what I've seen of him, I would say Vince is a bit of a dude. Such as - when it was still glass milk bottles - carrying two crates of milk in each hand. Without braggadocio. Lastly, they are totally fair and honest, which is a boon when buying fresh produce.

It's moved since the last review and is now nearer the station so don't follow the map too…read moreprecisely! Great selection of veg and some nice assorted health food supplies and meat and cheese and dairy. Ended up buying a lot more than was on my list - couldn't resist the opportunity whilst passing through Parbold on the canal.

Born from the genius and success of The Biospheric Project, 78 Steps is just around the corner…read more(well, 78 steps away) from the urban farming project which has taken Salford and Manchester by storm. The idea behind the shop is local food on a micro-scale, bringing the community in the area locally grown, ethically sourced and high quality produce. Stocking fresh fruit, veg & eggs from local farms, bread from the Barbakan deli in Chortlon and eco-friendly cupboard fillers from companies like Suma and Ecover, 78 Steps has a great range of British products, championing fresh local items and seasonal produce. As well at the shop itself, 78 Steps offer a Wholebox service, delivering fresh food to local people on a regular basis. Boxes start at as little as £5 and contain at least eight varieties of fruit and vegetables, making healthy eating cheap and accessible. Some of the fruits and vegetables have been grown at the Biospheric Project itself - just 78 steps away - making this a truly carbon efficient enterprise.

From a butcher to a fishmonger, and here's where I REALLY get to be a carnivore. I love seafood and…read moreyou can find it in spades here - it's worth travelling to from the city centre, believe me. Here you can find fish sustainably sourced in the form of mackerel, red mullet, line-caught bass and even sushi as well as the elusive John Dory, my favourite fish, and wild lobster and turbot. Having won an award for Best Food and Drink Outlet from the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, the fish is handpicked and purchased daily, with deliveries coming in two to three times a day. 90% of the fish is wild and the products are seasonal, meaning that you can get freshwater fish and shellfish as well as deli products, poultry and game and even vegetables, strangely enough. The value for money factor is huge here, the decor is clean and cute and it's certainly popular with the locals. Definitely one to travel for.

Nothing smells fishy in Out Of The Blue - apart from the fish of course. This is such an amazing…read morefishmonger, trying its best to supply the freshest and best quality produce possible by receiving 3 deliveries daily. There's mackerel, John Dory, red mullet and line-caught bass, plaice, salmon, freshwater fish, rare varieties of shellfish and lobster and a wonderful choice of Sushi prepared by an in-house chef. It doesn't end there - if you don't fancy fish you can also buy organic game and poultry Out of the Blue is a great deli too, selling seasonal vegetables, conserves, seasonings and even coffee and pasta, and the staff are happy to help with cooking and serving suggestions.

Deli Fonseca is one of the few places that makes me wish I was loaded…read more A fab independent deli in Liverpool's business district, it's packed floor to ceiling with all kinds of mouthwatering goodies. The gigantic counter displays a myriad of delicious cheeses, hams, olives, pates, anti-pasti and salads whilst the nearby baskets display fresh sticks and loaves of bread. To top it off, they have dozens of wooden shelves groaning with all kinds of lovely store cupboard treats from organic granola, cereals and cookies to oat cakes, chutneys, olive oils, vinegars, sauces and spices. Now, where did I put that darn lottery ticket?

This review is for the upstairs restaurant area - and sadly it is not a good one. One Saturday…read morelunchtime, I popped in for a light lunch. Nothing complicated - in the end, I ordered a Greek salad and a plate of Serrano ham rather than the pricier mains on the blackboards. I'm not sure how two really basic things could be so disappointing. I think it's because on the surface, this looks like a place that prides itself on sourcing and attention to detail. On the specials during my visit were such items as hand foraged local samphire, Cumbrian lamb and Pink's award winning sausages. So why was the Greek salad about 50% raw onion? Why did it feature those mealy crunchy supermarket basics tomatoes, cold from the fridge? Even the black olives mentioned on the menu were green. And they clearly did have black olives in the kitchen, because my four slices of Serrano ham (almost £6) came topped with a single olive. They boasted it was "20 month aged" - most of it had clearly been in their fridge, as it featured a faint tang of refrigerator and managed to be unpleasantly rubbery. Not sure how Serrano ham can even go rubbery but there you go. If you've boasting of excellent ingredients then it's unacceptable for the basics to fail so badly. I wouldn't bother returning.