A Brief History of CGOS

The Cornish Guild of Smallholders Limited was formed by the ATB as the Mid-Cornwall Smallholders Group, first meeting in a St Columb Inn and later in members homes. In 1997 it was decided to change the name to the Cornish Guild of Smallholders and organise the group on a more formal basis. Benefits being monthly meetings held at the Duchy Agricultural College on the Wadebridge Showground, a monthly newsletter, visits to members holdings, liasing with government bodies to put the smallholders’ views forward, annual smallholders show, etc.

In August 1998 the Guild organised the first Farmers’ Market in Cornwall at Lostwithiel Community Centre. In May 2002 the Guild was incorporated as a Not for Profit Company Limited by Guarantee. Back in January 2001 the Guild put forward the idea for a Local Produce and Environment Centre that would be selling local produce to the public for 6 or 7 days per week. They have now rented a shop in Liskeard for the sole purpose of selling local produce to members and the public six days per week The Guild’s aims include:

• To provide a social and information network for smallholders, small farmers, and rural enterprises in Cornwall.
• To organise Events such as Country Fayres, Food Festivals, Business Support Days etc. which bring together a wide range of activity and businesses within rural Cornwall and the Advisory Bodies concerned.
• To organise and run community markets to enable small and local producers to market their products thereby helping to grow the local economy.
• To create permanent outlets for the sale of local produce and provide employment opportunities for local people.
• To provide training facilities which complement existing provision and which meet the needs of members and local communities
• To create a local strategy promoting local food, to cook, to grow, to preserve, and to give this strategy the title Cornwall Food Links.
• To operate a support service for our members when required.