Helston Local Food Hub is adding exotic goods to their online food ordering service this week...delivered by sail boat.

It's sometimes disputed whether Helston was ever a port and if Helstonians once welcomed sailing ships laden with cargo from foreign lands to dock somewhere in the vicinity of the boating lake and Old Cattle Market. But this month, Helston Local Food Hub is doing (almost) just that.

The Food Hub has teamed up with fellow Open Food Network users New Dawn Traders, who source high quality produce from small local producers in Europe and bring it by sail boat to the UK.

Alastair Cameron from Helston Local Food Hub said: "We're excited to be bringing fine food to Helston in this way.

"It will make some very special olive oil and other produce taste even better to think how it found its way here."

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On board will be olive oil and olives from small organic producers in Portugal, dried beans, nuts, coffee, sea salt and chocolate all brought to these shores in old sailing cargo boats under the power of the wind.

Alastair added: "You're able to buy in bulk to last you through til next time the ship will dock in Cornwall."

Helston Local Food Hub was set up in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown when Helston Farmers' Market had to shut and producers were looking for new ways to sell their produce to customers.

Operating as an online shop, customers can buy local produce from a range of producers who deliver to Helston every Saturday. The Food Hub team then package it up for customers to collect later that morning, New produce and new producers are being added regularly.

Alastair helped set up the hugely popular Helston Farmers' Market in 2008 and sees the Food Hub as a natural progression of the market and a complementary service.

Those wanting to take advantage of this special New Dawn Traders delivery can order via the Local Food Hub website: www.helstonlocalfoodhub.co.uk before Thursday, September 3.

Orders will be collected from the boat and delivered with other Hub orders on September 12 at the Old Cattle Market in Helston.