A LEADING Ribble Valley dairy is tapping in to the organic roots of the region with a new line of milk products.

Bowland Fresh is using one of the organic family farms in its partnership to supply Booths supermarkets with an organic range of milk.

The milk will come from Robinsons, of Wood House Gate Farm, Slaidburn, which has been certified organic since 2001, and will be collected and bottled separately.

Owner of the farm Harvey Robinson, who runs it with wife Margaret and son William, said: "The Bowland Fresh brand is a great match to the ethos of organic farming, as both reduce food miles and are good for the environment."

Sixteen farmers from Lancashire joined forces to launch the Bowland Fresh brand and market it, after many complained they were not being paid enough for their milk.

William Slinger, a Bowland Fresh director, said the company was launching the range to meet the clamour for organic products, with the organic milk costing 90p for two pints and £1.68 for a litre.

He said: "We know there is a big demand for organic milk - even more so for organic milk that comes from a local source and is as fresh as it can be. It was a logical move for us to start providing to Booths, as their customers have been faithful supporters of the Bowland Fresh brand from the very beginning."

Phil Godwin, fresh food buyer for Booths, said: "Due to the increasing interest for organic milk, we felt that the time was now right to have a regionally produced product on our shelves. Bowland Fresh non-organic milk has been gladly received by our customers and we believe that the organic milk will be of equal success.

Research has shown that organic milk has important health benefits and has higher levels of vitamin E, vitamin A and antioxidants.

Organic dairy farms do not use pesticides where cows graze, while organic farming practices benefit the environment.