A local online ethical food shop, launched in Branscombe during the Covid-19 pandemic, has started a home delivery service across East Devon.

In My Back Yard (IMBY) launched its ethical food shop in April 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic.

Following two years of planning and preparation, it had been due to launch in the summer but was called into action sooner than expected.

After nine months of growing and supplying local households, IMBY has officially added a home delivery service for its ethical and naturally-grown/certified organic produce that's free from GMOs and chemicals that can harm people, soils and habitats.

Among IMBY's customers is award-winning writer, grower and cook Mark Diacono from Otter Farm near Sidmouth, who said: "We love In My Back Yard and wouldn't want to be without it. It's essentially a local, ethical supermarket that not only offers incredible food - the most delicious eggs, chicken and salad I've ever eaten.

"It was created from the ground up. It's about so much more than delicious food though; this way of shopping has us directly investing in our local landscape, the care of our soils and supports a community of passionate and dedicated growers and makers."

A spokesperson for IMBY said: "As the country settles into another national lockdown, the ability to have healthy produce delivered direct to our doors is becoming more and more essential as we do what we can to control outbreaks of Covid-19.

"IMBY sources as much produce as it can from within 30 miles of its Branscombe hub, delivering within 15 miles to customers.

"The co-operative is very much looking toward a changed food future, working with producers and communities to support the local economy, trade and environment.

"By sourcing locally and encouraging new entrants into growing and farming opportunities, IMBY hopes to help build adaptable and flexible resilience into our local food industry."

How and why did In My Back Yard start?

In My Back Yard was created by a group of farmers, producers and community members, all coming together under one name and promotional effort, to help small, ecologically-minded family businesses thrive.

For example, farms are often too small to sell to butchers' shops, but can supply customers, grocery shops and restaurants directly. When things were turned upside-down last spring, they suddenly had a lot more customers coming to their farm gates for food supplies, and needed an organised distribution system.

The 20 local, environmentally-minded suppliers who have come on board include Tytherleigh bread, Ottery St Mary honey, Kingsbridge milk, Lyme Bay Reserve scallops, Branscombe chicken, lamb and beef, Musbury pork and ale, and vegetable growers from Beer, Axmouth and Exeter.

Devon county councillor Martin Shaw, who represents the Seaton and Colyton ward which includes Branscombe, said: "Connecting local producers direct with the local community in this way makes local food a serious and viable option for the weekly shop – currently dominated by supermarkets."

IMBY has just received support from the East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund, delivered locally on behalf of Defra.

IMBY produce can be ordered online or via telephone between 10am on Saturdays to 10pm on Wednesdays, with home deliveries or collection point pick-ups on Friday afternoons.

For more information visit IMBY's website, email [email protected] or call 01297 680680.