A PIONEERING couple who run an organic farm shop are retiring- and handing over the reins to a loyal staff member.

Mike Sellers, 65, and his wife Pam, 61, who run Stanfield Hall farm shop near Pickering, are retiring, but rather than close the shop, they are handing over ownership to Anne Sleightholme, who has worked with the couple for six years.

The shop moved from its current location on West Gate Car Road to Eastgate Square in Pickering at the weekend, with an opening ceremony held yesterday (Tuesday).

Mr Sellers said: “We were going to shut the shop and walk away, but in the end we said to the staff: ‘You’ve been loyal for 10 or 11 years, if you want it you can have it’.”

Mr and Mrs Sellers first started selling from their farm in 1983, opening the current shop in 1995.

Mr Sellers explained that when they first set up their business, organic food was a revolutionary concept.

He said: “When we went into it, it was all about EC mountains of food.

We were pioneers and people scoffed at us and said it was too expensive, but for us it was all about ethics, a different way of farming. After the BSE crisis in 1995, lots of people turned to organic. Organics are really popular now.”

Once they have retired, the Sellers will continue to grow and keep beef cattle on their farm.

Ms Sleightholme, who has three children and lives in West Ayton, said: “I am very excited to be taking charge. I’ve worked here for six years, and I really enjoy the atmosphere and meeting the clientele.

“I’m not going to change anything in the beginning – I think customers like continuity. It will be good to be in the new shop, because it’s a much more modern setting, and Mike has made some lovely shelves. I do like the idea of organic.

“People like to know there are no pesticides and no chemicals in their food, and I want to continue that.”