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!

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.

I was really impressed with the quality, freshness and size of the veg boxes from Apple Organics…read more The staff are friendly, helpful and can always recommend a good recipe for whatever veg is in season. It's made my life a lot easier having a veg box delivered to my door and because they can also include other organic groceries it's saved me having to make special trips to a health food shop. An excellent service that I highly recommend.

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.

This is a lovely store which sells eco friendly and ethically sourced products including skincare…read moremade from all natural ingredients. The store was set up by two sisters who are vegetarian and qualified therapists and you can also buy online from their website. They stock Dr Hauschka skincare products and vegetarian vitamins from Viridan as well as Weleda, Bioforce and Greenpeople to name a few. You can even purchase a jute bag to carry your purchases which is fully biodegradable once you have used it for a lifetime.

Gorgeous shop selling the most amazing range of products - i buy all my vitamins there, they are so…read morehelpful and have so much advice - def worth a visit.

Not only a friendly place where news are exchanged and at times even cups of tea. The owners,…read moreAllan and Dawn will do everything they can to get their customers - at times French demanding ones like myself - whatever it is they might want. Through them, I even hope to get the soft goat cheeses I can find nowhere in the area.

The Organic Stores, based in Deeside near Chester, provides a vast array of Organic produce from…read morefresh fruit and veg, meats, dried and many more. it is truly a one stop shop for Organic produce. Having been established since 1996, Allan and Dawn, the proprietors, have been providing a great service since they opened their doors and are a pleasure to talk to. I recently completed their website, where you can find contact information and peak into their world. There will soon be an update, including E-commerce capabilities. A pleasure to work with and a great place to go. http://www.theorganicstores.co.uk

Do you fancy a place that has more awards than a pre Oscar's shindig? You know you do and…read moreSwillington Organic farm fits the bill. This is a great find and has an excellent reputation for some of the best organic meat and veg in the area. Not only do they have a long list of awards but they also provide supplies to Harvey Nichols as well. Not a bad boast. You can even try some rarer breed pork if that tickles your fancy. For me it's the organic free range eggs that appeal and some hearty herbs. You'll also be shopping in the knowledge that not only are they providers of organic produce but they also pride themselves on their fine animal welfare certificates for looking after all their animals. For me that is very important and I cannot praise them highly enough for it. They also offer guided walks around the farm and outlying area from time to time so it's a good idea to keep checking their website if you want to see more about where your food is coming from. Brilliant suppliers.

This company is fantastic and most of all passionate and committed to their values, to which i…read morewholly admire. The people i spoke to really knew their product and were so very much commited to ensuring the best lives for their animals this level of passion is wonderful and the sausages i tasted were wholesome, nourishing but best of all I knew when chomping down this meat had been looked after and nurtured in the right way. My hats off to you and i hope this business continues for many generations xx