A NORTH Yorkshire farmer has welcomed new research that shows significant differences in the nutritional content of organic and conventional crops.

An international team of experts led by Newcastle University concluded that organic crops have up to 69 per cent more key anti-oxidants than conventionally grown crops and have significantly lower levels of toxic heavy metals.

Peter Richardson, who farms organically at Riverford Home Farm at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, said: “We have always known that organic food looks, feels and tastes different to conventionally produced crops that are generally pushed forward with synthetic fertilisers. It would be strange if these differences were not reflected in the nutritional value too, and it now seems that science is catching up with what has always been common sense to us.”

Riverford supplies 4,000 customers with vegetable boxes every week throughout the north of England.The Newcastle scientists say their analysis of 343 studies into the differences between organic and conventionally grown food contradicts a UK Food Standards Agency commissioned study in 2009 which concluded there were no significant nutritional value from eating organic food.

They claim the difference is the equivalent of eating an extra one or two portions of fruit and vegetables a day.