An egg producer based on the Roseland Peninsula is popping up at locations throughout Cornwall to sell trays of their free-range eggs to local communities - and supporting Cornwall's food banks as it does so.

For each tray of St Ewe Free Range Eggs sold at their current reduced price, the producer is donating one carton of eggs to food banks across the county to try and help ease growing food poverty that's being exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Like many small businesses, St Ewe has seen more than half of its business drop off due to the pandemic, with half of customers being in the hospitality sector.

Unfortunately, you can’t furlough a hen and their flocks keep producing eggs, with no home to go to.

St Ewe along with countless other packers in the UK face the heart-breaking reality of having to throw away these perfectly edible eggs, right when they are needed most.

It is from here that the idea for the 'Shell Out To Help Out' campaign came about, to reduce food waste and supply eggs to those that need it most.

Bex Tonks, CEO, said: “As we are all getting used to the lock down way of life, it feels that the poultry farming industry has been hit particularly hard by this most recent one.

"Timing is everything, and the lead up to Christmas which had its usual buzz was followed by the plummet that falls in between Christmas and New Year; this year it has been faster and harder than ever. Combined with the third lockdown, uncertainty of Brexit and an increase in poultry feed prices, this cruel timing has left many poultry businesses in a dismal position.

"Supermarkets are restricting egg sales which seems such an odd thing to do when surplus eggs are going out of date and being thrown away! This all seems criminal when there are so many people in need of food and this is when the idea of 'Shell Out To Help Out' was conceived.

"For every tray of eggs sold, St Ewe will donate a carton of eggs to food banks and local charities.

"Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods you can buy as well as being affordable, extremely versatile, simple to cook and easily digestible for all age groups; the perfect food for all! So, let’s get them out there and share this beautiful British product with those that need it most.”

Somerset County Gazette: Eggs being bought at Cafe Chaos in TruroEggs being bought at Cafe Chaos in Truro

Egg buyers at Cafe Chaos in Truro

St Ewe is hoping as many people as possible get involved in this initiative on a national level enabling everybody, including those in need, to gain access to eggs. So far St Ewe have recruited top chefs such as Guy Owen of the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock and the Rick Stein group, to volunteer their time to sell eggs in and around their local communities.

St Ewe has also partnered with local charities to help spread the word including CHAOS (Feed Cornwall), FareShare SW, The Hive and Newquay Orchard.

Following the incredible success of the Feed Cornwall campaign, which saw hundreds of local families provided with food boxes over the Christmas period, the CHAOS Collective are continuing to support people in need in Cornwall through the development of community larders and other new projects.

CHAOS has been given some 20,000 of the St Ewe’s free-range eggs to distribute via its community larders and the team are keen to encourage key workers to take advantage of the scheme.

The locations of their pop ups will be posted on St Ewe’s Facebook page and anybody who is interested in this campaign is encouraged to join the 'Shell Out To Help Out' group to share stories, recipe inspiration and do their bit to help others during these difficult times.

To share your creations on social media, use the hashtags #SO2HO and #GBFoodrevolution.