Produce & Products

At The Cornish Food Box Company, we know that many of our customers think carefully about where their food comes from. For some, this includes concerns about religious slaughter, while for others it’s about animal welfare, stress reduction, and ethical farming practices. We want to be open and transparent about how the meat in our boxes is raised and processed, so you can make informed choices with confidence.

Animal Welfare Comes First
We work closely with trusted local Cornish farmers who share our commitment to high welfare standards. These farms prioritise good husbandry, outdoor access where appropriate, and calm, respectful handling of animals throughout their lives. But welfare doesn’t stop at the farm gate — how animals are transported and slaughtered matters too.

Poultry: Low-Stress, On-Farm Processing
Our poultry is killed on the farm where it is raised. This is an important welfare choice.

Transporting birds over long distances to an abattoir can be stressful for poultry. By carrying out slaughter on farm, we eliminate that journey altogether, allowing birds to remain in familiar surroundings right up to the end.

The birds are humanely killed by electrical stunning (electrocution), which renders them unconscious immediately, followed by removal of the head. This process is designed to minimise fear, distress, and suffering.

Beef, Pork, and Lamb: Fully Stunned Before Slaughter
Our beef, pork, and lamb come from local farms that use nearby, small-scale abattoirs. Keeping journeys short helps reduce stress for the animals.

At these abattoirs, cows, pigs, and sheep are fully stunned prior to slaughter. Stunning ensures the animal is unconscious and unable to feel pain before the final stage of the process takes place. This is a key element of UK animal welfare regulations and something we actively support.

Not Halal or Kosher Slaughter
We understand that religious slaughter is an important consideration for some customers, whether they are seeking it or wishing to avoid it.

The abattoirs used by our local farms are not registered for halal or kosher slaughter, and the meat we supply is not produced using halal or kosher methods. All animals are stunned before slaughter, which differs from traditional halal and kosher practices.

Transparency You Can Trust
We believe ethical food choices start with honest information. Whether your concerns are about animal welfare, religious slaughter, or simply wanting reassurance about how your food is produced, we hope this explanation gives you clarity and peace of mind.

If you ever have questions about our sourcing, farming partners, or welfare standards, we’re always happy to talk. Ethical food is a journey, and we’re proud to walk it alongside our customers.

You can get the taste of Cornwall for yourself by getting a fresh food delivery to your door. By getting your fresh food delivered from Cornish Food Box Company, you're getting it straight from the source, guaranteeing freshness and quality as well as supporting local fishermen, farmers, and a whole community of food producers and contributing to the livelihoods of our rural communities.

With our online ordering and nationwide delivery options, getting your food delivered is convenient and hassle-free, allowing you to enjoy the best of food produced in Cornwall whilst supporting a more sustainable food system that's good for farmers, animal welfare, your health and the environment.

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Why beetroot should definitely be on your plate.

Beetroot, once a staple of 1970s British salads, often cooked and pickled in vinegar, is a root vegetable characterized by its dark purple skin and vibrant pink or purple flesh. In recent years, beetroot has experienced a well-deserved resurgence in popularity, owing to its earthy, rich, and sweet flavor profile, as well as its striking color, which lends itself beautifully to both sweet and savory culinary creations. Not all beetroot are round and purple. They also come in yellow (it doesn't stain so great if that puts you off!), pink and white striped which looks wonderful in a carpaccio, and in cylindrical forms.

Beetroot shares botanical kinship with spinach and chard and has a whole host of health benefits. 

Top 10 Health Benefits of Beetroot:

1. Rich in Protective Antioxidants: Beetroot ranks among the top 10 most potent antioxidant vegetables, aiding the body in combating oxidative stress. Anthocyanins, the plant compounds responsible for its purple-crimson hue, exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Anti-Cancer Properties: Betacyanin, the powerful pigment in beetroot, is believed to help suppress certain cancers, including bladder cancer. Additionally, beetroot contains other potential cancer-fighting compounds such as ferric acid, rutin, and kaempferol.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Betalains found in beetroot may reduce inflammation symptoms and markers, offering potential relief for conditions like joint inflammation.
   May Lower Blood Pressure: Beetroot's natural richness in nitrates relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and potentially lowering blood pressure. Studies also suggest nitrate-rich foods like beetroot may aid in heart attack recovery.
4. Improve Exercise Performance and Energy Levels: Beetroot juice has gained popularity among athletes for its potential to enhance exercise endurance and performance. Nitrates in beetroot also aid muscle recovery post-exercise.
5. Improve Digestive Health: High fiber content in beetroot supports bowel function and fosters a healthy gut environment. Betalains further enhance gut health by promoting the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids.
6. Protect the Gut: Beetroot is rich in glutamine, essential for maintaining gut lining integrity, potentially shielding it from damage and stress.
   May Support Brain Health and Reaction Time: Improved blood flow facilitated by beetroot benefits brain function, potentially enhancing decision-making and memory. Higher nitrate intake may also improve motor functions and reaction time.
7. Useful for Post-Menopause Diet: Nitrate-rich vegetables like beetroot can help manage increased blood pressure and heart disease risk post-menopause. Beetroot juice before exercise may also improve mobility and cardio-metabolic outcomes in this demographic.
8. May Relieve Symptoms of Raynaud's Phenomenon: Initial studies suggest beetroot juice may enhance blood flow to fingers and feet, potentially reducing pain and inflammation associated with Raynaud's phenomenon. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

How to cook, prepare, and store your beets

To cook beetroot whole, begin by washing it without peeling. Trim the stalks to 2.5cm and leave the root intact; excessive trimming may cause the beetroot to bleed color. It can be baked in a low oven for 2-3 hours, either wrapped in foil or placed in a lidded casserole dish with a little water. Alternatively, it can be simmered for about an hour after the same initial preparation.

Beetroot can also be enjoyed raw, peeled, and grated into salads and slaws or thinly shaved for a 'carpaccio' effect. The leaves can be washed and trimmed for use in salads or as a garnish.

Cooking Suggestions for Beetroot:

Roast beetroot and toss with walnut oil and chives, or bake it with olive oil and cumin seeds before adding feta and baking again. Boiling beetroot for a few minutes, draining, and serving with a drizzle of olive oil or butter is another option. Raw beetroot can also be juiced and mixed with carrot juice for a refreshing and vitamin-rich beverage.

Storage Recommendations for Beetroot:

Fresh beetroot can be stored for several weeks in a cool, dark place. Vacuum-packed cooked beetroot is also available, ideal for pickling, roasting, or adding to salads, and can be refrigerated for several months.