OxFarmtoFork

OxFarmToFork is a collaborative, non-profit project led by Good Food Oxfordshire that connects institutions with local farmers and producers through a short, fair, zero-emissions supply chain – built on collaboration, not profit.

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Rebuilding Oxfordshire’s Food System, One Plate at a Time

Why We Exist: Restoring the True Value of Local Food

Oxfordshire is a region rich with farming, yet today, less than 1% of the food grown in the region stays in Oxford. This disconnect weakens our rural communities, ignores the incredible ethical work of our local producers, and compromises the quality and freshness of the food reaching our plates. 

The industrial food system isn’t working. It rewards supermarket CEOs and global supply chains, while British farmers face financial hardship and mental health crises.

61% of farmers struggle with mental health – a direct result of unfair supply chains that prioritise profit over people.

OxFarmToFork prioritises fair, short supply chains, reinvesting into our local economy and modelling systemic transformation. Institutions that join us don’t just receive food – they become partners in building a healthier, more just food ecosystem.

When we prioritise the local food producer, the whole community thrives. We are much more than a wholesaler; we are a committed collective, working hard to ensure a healthier, sustainable, and responsible food system that genuinely cares for our local food culture, the people who grow it and those who eat it.

Our model ensures every pound spent supports local livelihoods, sustainable farming, and a healthier planet. Every penny we earn is reinvested into our producers – funding better equipment, fairer pay, and long-term environmental stewardship.

And we are not an isolated voice: “Eating local means reducing food miles, connecting with our farmers, and supporting agriculture that restores health – of people, the economy, and the earth.” – Vandana Shiva

Join OxFarmToFork

Will you join us as a buyer or investor and help us scale this success and build a resilient, ethical, and transparent food future?

Our Journey So Far

From One Dinner to a County-Wide Movement

It began with a dinner at Balliol College in March 2023, when Good Food Oxfordshire brought together farmers, chefs, and institutions to ask a simple question:

What if Oxfordshire could feed Oxfordshire?

That night sparked a movement and the connections were sown. Initial orders were taken via a simple WhatsApp group then a humble spreadsheet, which transitioned to a bespoke online ordering Marketplace, developed by our tech partners, Tream.

Our commitment to sustainability also extends to logistics, with Velocity acting as our zero-emissions delivery partner, collecting orders by e-vans and delivering every order via cargo bike – ensuring true sustainability from field to fork.

In 2024 alone, OxFarmToFork saved 686 tonnes of carbon in food miles, which is roughly equivalent to the amount of CO2​ absorbed by planting 686 trees over their lifetime or taking over 150 cars off the road for a year. All our producers are based within around 50 miles of Oxford City, meaning that when we say local, we mean local. Learn more about OxFarmToFork by watching our promo video below:

 

The Producers: The Heart of Our Movement

Integrity From Field to Plate

Our commitment starts with a personal connection. We know all our growers and producers by name, and we truly do care for them, putting their well-being first. We champion environmentalism and ethical practice in every transaction and at every link of the chain, ensuring our funds directly support those who are building a better future for our rural communities. 

We only work with farmers and food producers who reflect our ethics and put sustainability and environmentalism first, signing our Charter by way of their commitment. We only partner with producers who meet the standards of the Agroecological Assessment Framework, ensuring high environmental care and ethical practice. Every transaction directly supports a fairer, more regenerative food future.

  • Our network represents true food integrity and environmental stewardship, including:
  • Pioneering Farms: Regenerative and biodiverse growers who give more back to the land than they take.
  • Artisan Producers: Award-winning cheesemakers and innovative mushroom growers (who repurpose food waste into gourmet ingredients).
  • Ethical Innovation: Juice makers using surplus apples to reduce waste, and coffee suppliers who offer genuine better-than-Fairtrade prices directly to farmers.
  • Social Enterprises: B Corp businesses using food as a force for good, ensuring a triple bottom line – people and planet before profit.

By choosing OxFarmToFork, you’re not just sourcing food – you’re investing in a food system that values quality, people, and the planet.

“The produce is so fresh and lasts much longer than anything we get from other suppliers.” –  Sean, Head Chef, Queen’s College, Oxford

Turning Procurement into Local Investment

We’ve reimagined food procurement as a force for good… Our non-profit structure is uniquely designed to turn procurement into local investment. 

Here’s how every partnership with OxFarmToFork creates direct local impact:

  1. Economic Multiplier: Every single pound spent with us generates £2.50 in social, economic, and environmental value for Oxfordshire.
  2. Direct Reinvestment: Buyers pay a one-off Joining Fee (up to £2,500) which is directly reinvested into our local producers to boost productivity (e.g., polytunnels, tools, transport crates).
  3. Operational Transparency: Our modest 10% transaction fee covers our core staff time, ensuring the system is run by a dedicated team.

Unlike commercial suppliers, we don’t extract profit – we reinvest it into the growth and integrity of Oxfordshire’s food system.

“There’s been a gulf between growers and institutions. OxFarmToFork has bridged that gap in a way I couldn’t have managed alone.” – Harrison Fannon, market gardener at Worthy Earth

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Your Procurement, Redefined

In just two years, OxFarmToFork has delivered over £300,000 worth of locally grown produce into Oxford institutions – and we’re only getting started.

Will you join us as a buyer or investor and help us scale this success and build a resilient, ethical, and transparent food future?

We are actively seeking anchor institutions to partner with us, ensuring fresh, healthy produce reaches those who need it most. We’re especially calling on:

  • Schools to provide fresh, nutritious meals that fuel the next generation.
  • Hospitals to ensure those who need the highest quality, healthy, nutritious produce have access to it.
  • Colleges & Universities to lead the way in ethical, sustainable sourcing.
  • Restaurants & Caterers to showcase the flavour and freshness of truly local food.
  • Local Suppliers who want to sell their produce with us.

Be Part of Oxfordshire’s Food Revolution

Will your organisation be part of rebuilding a fairer, more sustainable food system? Get in touch today to help build a truly sustainable food system for Oxfordshire and beyond: oxfarmtofork@gfo.org.uk

Want to learn even more? Explore our FAQs page, Producer Map, and How It Works for more information.

Join OxFarmToFork

Will you join us as a buyer or investor and help us scale this success and build a resilient, ethical, and transparent food future?

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