Heirloom Foods is a local South African farm growing fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs from carefully selected heirloom seeds, following organic and biodynamic farming principles.

For more than a decade, the founders of Heirloom Foods have collected interesting varieties of seeds from around the world. Today, these seeds produce an extraordinary variety of fresh foods – including fruits and vegetables that can look and taste quite differently from the standard commercial varieties commonly found in supermarkets.

At the heart of Heirloom Foods is a commitment to healthy soil, biodiversity and natural farming practices. The growers avoid synthetic chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers and instead work with organic and biodynamic principles to nurture the soil and grow healthy, naturally produced food.

The farm is also open to the public, giving visitors the opportunity to experience where their food is grown and connect more closely with the people, plants and farming practices behind it.

In addition to fresh seasonal produce, Heirloom Foods transforms some of its own farm-grown ingredients into a small range of carefully prepared foods and condiments, including sauerkraut, pickled gherkins, jams and beetroot salad.

What Does “Heirloom” Mean?

The word heirloom generally refers to traditional, open-pollinated plant varieties that have been preserved and passed down over generations rather than developed primarily for modern large-scale commercial agriculture.

Heirloom varieties are often valued for their flavour, colour, history, genetic diversity and unusual characteristics.

A carrot, for example, doesn’t have to be orange. Heirloom carrots may be purple, yellow, white or red. Similarly, tomatoes can range from tiny fruits to large, irregularly shaped varieties in shades of red, yellow, green, purple and almost black.

Consequently, produce from an heirloom farm may not always look as uniform as conventional supermarket produce – and that is part of what makes it so interesting.

Growing with Organic & Biodynamic Principles

Heirloom Foods follows organic and biodynamic farming principles, with particular attention to the health of the soil and the wider farm ecosystem.

Biodynamic agriculture views the farm as an interconnected living system in which soil, plants, animals, microorganisms, compost, seasons and the surrounding environment all play a role.

It shares important principles with organic agriculture, including avoiding GMOS, synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilisers. However, biodynamic farming places additional emphasis on soil vitality, biodiversity, composting, ecological balance and specific biodynamic preparations and farming practices.

Rather than focusing only on the crop being harvested, this approach considers the long-term health and resilience of the farm itself.

Why Organic Choice Chooses Heirloom Foods

Heirloom Foods is one of Organic Choice’s most trusted fresh-produce suppliers. Our relationship with the farm goes beyond simply ordering fruit and vegetables.

We have visited the farm, met the founder and the people who work there, and experienced first-hand the care that goes into growing and preparing their food.

That connection matters to us. When we choose fresh produce for Organic Choice, we want to know where it comes from, how it was grown and who grew it.

Heirloom Foods shares the values that are important to us: respect for the soil, avoidance of unnecessary agricultural chemicals, appreciation of natural diversity and a desire to reconnect people with real food and the farms that produce it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Heirloom Foods?

A local South African farm growing fresh produce from heirloom seeds using organic and biodynamic farming principles.

What are heirloom vegetables?

Traditional, usually open-pollinated varieties preserved for characteristics such as flavour, colour, history and genetic diversity.

What is biodynamic farming?

A whole-farm approach that considers soil, plants, animals, microorganisms and the surrounding environment as an interconnected agricultural system.

Can the public visit Heirloom Foods?

Yes. The farm is open to the public.

Does Heirloom Foods only sell fresh fruits and vegetables?

No. In addition to fresh produce, the farm makes selected prepared foods and condiments using its produce, including sauerkraut, pickled gherkins and beetroot salad.