TAMAR Grow Local is calling for producers in the Tavistock/Tamar Valley area to put produce on a 100-year-old boat which is to travel down the River Tamar to supply a new Plymouth canteen and deli at Royal William Yard.

On November 14, a 22ft Yealm Crabber will travel down the Tamar, collecting produce from local producers to deliver to the River Cottage Canteen, organised by Tamar Grow Local.

The boat will collect potatoes, pumpkins, apple juice, eggs, Pentillie pheasant and Tamar Valley apples.

It may also be carrying wood to power the wood-fired oven in the canteen. When it gets to the canteen, the suppliers join Joe Draper, the River Cottage head chef, to look around the canteen.

Writer, broadcaster and campaigner Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, who started River Cottage, said: 'We are very much looking forward to contributing to the vibrancy of the local food community in Plymouth.

'The region has a strong market garden heritage and we have a great opportunity to source the best ingredients and create some fantastic food in a wonderful location.'

Simon Platten from Tamar Grow Local said: 'The boat trip is historically how food used to be transported in the region.

'This trip will be a pilot to test if it works, but the ambition is for the boat to come down monthly to River Cottage, all being well.'

River Cottage managing director Rob Love said: 'River Cottage supports locally sourced produce and sustainable methods of transport wherever possible. We are very interested in this project, it's a great example of how River Cottage likes to get involved with the local community.'

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Simon at [email protected]">[email protected]