Healthy eating helped Northern Irish vegetable farmer Nathan Gilmore lose three stone, and inspired him to start a new business to offer busy families easier access to farm fresh vegetables delivered directly to their homes.
Gilmore, the third generation to run the family farm, located near Newtownards in county Down, found the weight piling on because of his unhealthy eating habits, and decided to he needed to take control.
“Like most vegetable growers, I often start before 5am and I am on the go all day, which sounds like a recipe for trim body,' he said. 'However, my downfall was relying on one, very large, very late and mega unhealthy meal per day for body fuel.
“The weight really piled on, not surprisingly. Then the penny dropped. I learned that having easy access to healthy, fresh food that is easily prepared is vital.”
This realisation led him to turn his own interest in healthy food into a small business, Farmbox, supplying fresh fruit and vegetables to local families, and the spin-off Gymbox, which offers a selection of meat and vegetables for gym enthusiasts. The boxes are delivered to homes within a radius of 20 miles of the farm.
Gilmore said: “One of the many lessons I have learned since launching FarmBox is that fresh vegetables can be turned into an enjoyable meal quickly.
“At the same time our customers have learned that a reliable, farm-based service offers them a time-saving source of vegetables with the true flavour of County Down. Many parents take pleasure in pointing out that the greens their children now enjoy come from a farm within a few miles of their home.”
Farmbox/Gymbox now links health-conscious consumers directly to the farm by means of the internet. Shoppers go to the website to order fresh products delivered within hours.
“The response from young families, pensioners and sports enthusiasts wishing to eat healthy local produce has been phenomenal,' Gilmore added
Farmbox, costing under £20, includes a range of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli, Savoy cabbage, turnip, onions and mushrooms.
