Keelham Farm Shop on the way to green glory.

Skipton based Keelham Farm Shop, are celebrating after being awarded a prestigious environmental award.

The family run firm have been awarded the International Green Apple Environment Award in the campaign to find the greenest companies. The Awards are an annual campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world. 

Keelham, who competed against more than 500 other businesses, will be presented with their trophy and certificate at a glittering ceremony in the Houses of Parliament in November.

One of 12 entries from the Craven area to reach the finals, Keelham’s submission highlighted the work the team do to combat food waste, support the local economy and the environment and help customers to be more eco-friendly. 

A particular focus of the award submission is the popular Veg Exchange Scheme which encourages customers to bring home-grown surplus fruit and veg to Keelham where it is sold on their behalf, in return for credit. Now in its tenth year since it started at Keelham’s former Thornton shop, the Craven community has taken the scheme into their hearts, and there have been 634 Veg Exchange transactions at the Skipton shop since it opened in 2015.

Victoria Robertshaw, Chief Executive of Keelham Farm Shop: “It is wonderful to have all the work we do to help reduce waste recognised by such a significant campaign as The Green Organisation. We are passionate about combating food waste at the Shop and also in helping our customers to be more environmentally friendly. As well as being able to take part in the Veg Exchange Scheme we know that our customers find it helpful  to be able to buy just the amount they need, however small, and at Keelham much of our fruit, veg and baked goods like biscuits; grains, herbs, nuts and pulses are sold loosely.”

As a result of this International Green Apple Award success, Keelham have been invited to achieve Green World Ambassador status and have their winning paper published in The Green Book (the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice) so that others around the world can follow their lead and learn from their achievement.