The local food edit: Devon farm shops & delis worth visiting
A good farm shop or deli offers much more than somewhere to fill your basket. It is a chance to discover what is being grown, reared, baked, brewed and made nearby, meet the independent businesses behind the food and enjoy a closer connection with Devon’s brilliant food and drink community.
Why shopping local matters
Choosing local food and drink can have an impact well beyond the weekly shop. Independent retailers provide an important route to market for farmers, growers and artisan producers, helping more Devon businesses thrive together. Many bring products from numerous small-scale suppliers under one roof, making it easier for shoppers to discover local names they might otherwise miss.
There are benefits on the other side of the counter, too. Farm shops and delis can give shoppers a clearer idea of where their food has come from, introduce them to produce that changes with the seasons and offer the sort of knowledgeable, personal service that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
And, of course, there is the pleasure of the shopping itself: counters piled with Devon cheese, fresh bread, local meat, just-picked vegetables, handmade preserves, cakes, cider and all manner of tasty treats you didn't necessarily intend to buy when you walked through the door.
If that sounds like your sort of food shop, these Food Drink Devon members are well worth adding to your list.
Devon farm shops and delis worth visiting
Stokeley Farm Shop, Stokenham
Set in the South Hams, Stokeley Farm Shop near Kingsbridge brings shopping, eating and local enterprise together in one relaxed countryside destination.
The shop prioritises Devon and regional suppliers, with fresh fruit and vegetables, a butchery counter, local bread, groceries and a deli filled with cheeses, charcuterie and prepared foods. Delicious Devon-made drinks feature prominently too.
Alongside the farm shop are a café and Taphouse, as well as a pop-up retail space which gives other independent makers a chance to showcase what they do.
Darts Farm, Topsham
Darts Farm near Topsham has plenty to keep food lovers occupied. Its farm shop brings together seasonal produce from the farm's own fields in addition to food and drink from hundreds of local and artisan producers.
Look out for West Country cheeses, charcuterie, bread, pastries, preserves and drinks, alongside fresh produce and a butchery counter featuring locally reared meat, including Ruby Red Devon cattle from the farm. There are also several places to eat and drink on site, and plenty of outdoor space, making it more of a destination rather than a quick grocery run.
Watch out for seasonal events on the farm too, including Tulip Fest, Pumpkin Fest and more.
Copplestone Farm Shop, near Crediton
Smaller in scale but big on local connections, Copplestone Farm Shop is a community-minded independent in Mid Devon. Reopened by Lucy and Michaela in 2023, the shop now stocks food and drink from more than 40 local suppliers.
Seasonal fruit and vegetables sit alongside locally sourced meat, artisan bread and bakes, Devon cheeses, preserves and store-cupboard essentials. There is coffee, cake and seating too, making it as much a place to catch up as stock up. Its contribution to local retail was recognised when it was named Best Small Retailer at the Food Drink Devon Awards 2024.
Otterton Mill, East Devon
Food shopping comes with a side helping of Devon heritage at Otterton Mill, a historic working watermill in the Otter Valley near Budleigh Salterton.
Its farm shop champions local food and drink, with shelves of Devon produce alongside goodies from the Mill's own artisan bakery and deli. Fresh breads, cakes and savoury bakes are made on site, while flour is still traditionally milled at the historic watermill, continuing a milling heritage that stretches back more than 1,000 years.
There is plenty more to explore while you're there, from the café-restaurant to galleries showcasing local artists and makers. With its riverside setting and strong focus on Devon produce, Otterton Mill is a particularly lovely place to combine stocking the cupboards with a day out in East Devon.
Fordmore Farm Shop & Café, Cullompton
Farm shop, butcher, fishmonger, deli and café: Fordmore packs plenty into its Mid Devon home just outside Cullompton.
Its focus is firmly on fresh, seasonal West Country food, with much of the produce coming from the family's own farms and the rest sourced through trusted local suppliers. Alongside fruit and vegetables, bakery goods and local drinks, shoppers can explore the meat, fish, deli and cheese counters, pick up ready-to-cook dishes or put together a hamper.
Farm animals and a children's play area add another reason for families to linger.
Greendale Farm Shop, near Exeter
At Greendale Farm Shop, the connection between producer and plate is particularly easy to see. Set among East Devon farmland near Farringdon, the family-run business sells beef from its own farm alongside fresh fish landed by its own fishing fleet.
There is a full butchery counter, wet-fish counter, seasonal fruit and vegetables and shelves filled with Devon cheeses, cider, breads, dairy products, sweet treats and other West Country favourites.
If shopping works up an appetite, Greendale also has its own café and restaurant, takeaway fish and chips and other food stops on site.
Ben's Farm Shops, Staverton, Yealmpton and Totnes
With shops in Staverton, Yealmpton and Totnes, Ben's Farm Shops have made local, seasonal and responsibly sourced food their speciality.
Expect traditional butcher's counters at the larger shops, with organic and free-range meat, sausages, bacon and charcuterie, alongside abundant seasonal fruit and vegetables. Deli counters add handmade pies, pasties, salads and cakes, while the shelves bring together artisan cheeses, local dairy products, breads, ciders, ales and pantry staples.
The Staverton and Yealmpton shops incorporate their own cafés too. The perfect pit stop for a coffee or a bite to eat after ticking off your shopping list.
Aune Valley Meat, Loddiswell
For shoppers who want to know more about where their meat comes from, Aune Valley Meat at Loddiswell puts provenance front and centre.
This long-established South Hams family business combines a traditional butcher's shop with a wider farm shop, deli and Valley View Café. Much of its beef is reared on the family's own farms, with the shop also offering local lamb, pork and poultry, homemade sausages, burgers, bacon, pies and pasties.
Beyond the butcher's counter, there is local fruit and veg, fish and seafood, Devon cheese and a wider range of artisan produce to explore.
The Heavi Deli, Heavitree
For a more urban take on local food shopping, make for The Heavi Deli on Fore Street in Heavitree, Exeter.
Opened by local residents Owen and Kate Wilder in December 2024, the independent deli places ethical, sustainable and regional sourcing at the heart of its shelves. There are artisan cheeses and charcuterie, preserves, chocolates, biscuits and pastries, as well as local wines, beers, ciders and spirits.
Coffee and fresh food have made it a place to stop as well as shop, while its strong community focus has quickly become part of its identity. The deli won Gold and Best Retailer of the Year at the Food Drink Devon Awards 2025.
Country Cheeses, Tavistock, Totnes and Topsham
For cheese lovers, Country Cheeses is well worth a visit, with plenty to tempt you beyond your usual favourites.
With shops in Tavistock, Totnes and Topsham, this specialist cheesemonger focuses entirely on British cheese, with a particularly strong showing from Devon and the wider West Country. Its selection can run to around 150 cheeses, from familiar regional favourites to rarer and seasonal varieties.
The team works closely with cheesemakers and even matures selected cheeses itself, making this an especially rewarding place to ask questions, try something unfamiliar and put together a properly Devon-led cheeseboard.
Powderham Farm Shop & Bistro, Kenton
Set within the grounds of the Powderham Castle Estate, with views across the deer park and Exe Estuary, Powderham Farm Shop & Bistro pairs a rather special setting with a strong commitment to West Country food and drink.
The farm shop champions local farmers, growers and independent producers, with an in-house butchery selling locally reared meat, poultry and game, alongside a delicatessen stocked with cheeses, charcuterie and freshly baked goods. Fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables come from trusted local growers, while the shelves offer plenty more opportunities to discover Devon and South West producers.
There’s a bistro next door too, serving seasonal dishes made with produce from local suppliers and the farm shop itself. Add in the estate setting and its position close to the Exe Estuary Trail, and it’s an appealing place to combine a local food shop with lunch or a day exploring this corner of Devon.
Barton Place Farm Shop, Exeter
On the outskirts of Exeter, Barton Place Farm Shop is a family-run business with a strong emphasis food produced close to home. Established in 2014, the shop combines produce from the farm itself with a carefully handpicked selection from other Devon and West Country suppliers.
Home-reared lamb and beef sit alongside free-range eggs from the farm, seasonal vegetables, local honey, fresh milk and cream, artisan bread and homemade cakes. You'll also find Devon butter and cheese, and plenty of store-cupboard favourites. There is even a 24-hour fresh milk vending machine on site for anyone in need of a local milk top-up outside of normal shop hours.
For shoppers keen to know where their food comes from, Barton Place Farm Shop offers a refreshingly direct connection between the farm, local producers and the food that ends up in your basket.
The Country Larder Farm Shop, Harberton
Near Totnes, The Country Larder Farm Shop grew from an honesty stall into a farm shop centred around seasonal Devon produce, sustainable farming and a close connection to the land. Much of what you'll find is grown on the team's own farm near Harberton, with additional produce sourced from trusted Devon farmers.
The changing selection includes homegrown vegetables and salad crops, seasonal Devon fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs and locally reared beef, pork and chicken. The farm's own crops are grown without pesticides, while the wider approach focuses on natural production and low-impact, regenerative farming.
Open 24 hours a day, The Country Larder is a particularly handy stop for anyone looking to stock up on fresh, locally grown food while supporting a small Devon farming business.
Forest Fungi & The Farm Shop, Dawlish Warren
For something a little different, Forest Fungi & The Farm Shop in Dawlish Warren combines a local farm shop with its own speciality mushroom-growing operation.
Mushrooms are grown on site in climate-controlled ‘Shroom Rooms’, with varieties including shiitake, Lion’s Mane, Hen of the Woods and several types of oyster mushroom. Fresh and dried mushrooms take pride of place in the shop, alongside a wide selection of food and drink sourced largely from Devon and the South West, including artisan bread, cheeses, meat, dairy, preserves, pies, fruit and vegetables.
There’s also a café where Forest Fungi’s mushrooms feature prominently on the menu, while bookable mushroom farm tours offer the chance to see how the produce is grown. It’s a great stop for anyone keen to discover something a little more unusual while filling their basket with local produce.
Fill your basket with Devon
One of the joys of shopping at Devon's independent farm shops and delis is that no two visits will look the same. What is fresh, seasonal and available changes; new producers appear on the shelves; and there is nearly always somebody behind the counter who can point you towards something worth trying.
Whether you're doing the weekly shop, building a picnic, hunting down a great piece of Devon-made cheese or looking for a gift with genuine local provenance, choosing an independent retailer is a simple way to enjoy more of the county's food and drink while supporting the people who produce, make and sell it.
So take the scenic route, bring a roomy shopping bag and discover what delights Devon's farm shops and delis have waiting on their shelves.