We are thrilled to announce that our brilliant founder, Duncan Farrington, has been awarded an MBE for services to agriculture and the food and drink industry in the King’s New Year Honours List 2025.
The Cabinet Office praised Duncan as a “prominent voice in the promotion of regenerative farming techniques” and a “role model to other farmers across the UK”. And as we look forward to celebrating 20 years of Mellow Yellow in 2025, this couldn’t have come at a better time!
There have been multiple milestones worth celebrating in our Mellow Yellow journey to date. From pioneering Britain’s first seed-to-bottle cold-pressed rapeseed oil in 2005, to becoming the world’s first culinary oil certified by the UN as carbon neutral in 2020, our journey has been filled with innovation and a commitment to sustainability. And as a LEAF marque producer and demonstration farm, we’re excited to see what we can achieve in 2025 as we work collaboratively towards a more sustainable food future.
To our amazing team, loyal chefs, customers and everyone who has been part of our journey – THANK YOU. Your belief in our mission and values has been instrumental in reaching this significant milestone.
Here’s to many more years of growth, sustainability, and positive impact on our planet.
Today is World Soil Day: the 11th annual global campaign focused on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
The theme of this year’s campaign is caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage, which highlights the importance of research and data in understanding the soil characteristics that underpin decision-making on soil management for food security.
Sustainable soil management is a priority here on our farm. We firmly believe that ‘healthy soil = healthy oil’ and as such we place a huge emphasis on researching, testing and understanding our soil to ensure we are farming the land for long-term, sustainable outcomes.
Working with esteemed organisations like LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) and One Carbon World we have been able to achieve total carbon neutrality as part of our wider commitment to sustainability. And a huge part of this has been working collaboratively to understand the soil in which we grow our crops.
We are a LEAF Marque accredited farm and a LEAF demonstration farm that sees farmers and industry come together to look at the soil and share best practices so we can constantly evolve our approach. It’s not a one size fits all – there are challenges and a lot of hard work! But through the sharing of key learnings and information, we can constantly tweak our approach and push for more sustainable food production models here in the UK.
Put simply, we think soil is amazing and we want to do everything in our power to help it thrive. We don’t plough to ensure our soil can store as much carbon as possible. We use cover crops to keep the soil covered, adding more organic matter when needed. And we use a wide rotation of crops, alternating between 4 different crops, in addition to cover crops year on year, so if one crop uses up a lot of one nutrient, we can plant a crop that adds that nutrient back into the soil the following year.
By keeping the soil fertile and healthy, we can ensure it stores more carbon to grow nutritious crops in our fields. Because nutritious crops = nutritious food. It’s simply about respecting the land and the process to ensure the best possible outcomes for people and planet.
Mellow Yellow has proudly sponsored the culinary students at Westminster Kingsway College since 2020 – supplying our cold pressed rapeseed oil to the kitchen, where it’s worked into an array of traditional and innovative dishes under the guidance of Jose Souto – Chef Lecturer at the college for 20 years.
Part of Capital City College Group, London’s largest college group, and one of the country’s leading colleges in hospitality and culinary arts, Westminster Kingsway is renowned for nurturing some of the most famous chefs of our generation including Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott and Anthony Worral Thompson.
The food landscape has changed a lot since these chefs burst onto our screens, but through quality educators like Jose, the quest for quality ingredients has remained integral to the training of chefs, with sustainable British ingredients in high demand as we head towards 2025. Not only do these young chefs want to learn how to make marinades, mayonnaise and confit potatoes, they are more engaged than ever in ingredient provenance and the importance of sustainability.
As a producer of carbon-neutral cold pressed rapeseed oil, it’s been encouraging to see a fresh wave of chefs wanting to connect with ingredients with genuine interest and curiosity. Chefs are looking for so much more from a culinary oil than quality and high smoke point. They want to understand the making of ingredients, the history of how – and where – they’re grown, and why preserving traditional production methods is important. Because ultimately these are the things that shine through the food they produce in the kitchen. They are part of the food story, part of their journey as a chef and part of the narrative the customer wishes to see when they sit down to eat.
Mellow Yellow ticks the quality, versatility and cost boxes for chefs. But it also carries that story of provenance, family history and British ingredients, as well as being the only sustainable, carbon-neutral choice for professional kitchens. Totally un-processed, it is a premium alternative to frequently used pomace oil, and a more cost-effective option than imported Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
From the many farm tours we’ve carried out at Bottom Farm this year, it’s clear that we all share the same common goal: to celebrate age old techniques and quality ingredients nurtured by British soil, whilst ensuring sustainability remains front and centre in our food systems.
We supply our Mellow Yellow oil to pubs, restaurants, hotels, business & industry, education & healthcare, travel & leisure. Find out more about Mellow Yellow for Food Service.
Every great kitchen needs a great culinary oil and we’re delighted to provide our cold-pressed rapeseed oil to some of the most progressive and creative chefs in the UK.
From bistros and pubs to corporate kitchens and fine dining – Mellow Yellow is the counter oil of choice for many commercial kitchens looking for a quality oil that won’t leave a huge dent in that bottom line. And we’re delighted to have some of the best in the business flying the flag for our sustainable oil, including Michelin-starred chef, Adam Gray who was one of the first to switch to Mellow Yellow when we started producing in 2005.
Whilst our focus is national, there’s something rather wonderful about supporting local businesses and we are proud to supply some award-winning restaurants close to our farm in Hargrave, including James Peck’s Ember and the Tollemache Arms in Harrington – winner of the much sought after ‘Great British Pub of the Year‘ Award. But whether it’s local or further afield, our mission will always be to provide the best oil for the job. And with a growing demand from the food service sector, it’s clear that chefs are realising that one of the best quality oils of all might just be right here on this little island of ours!
Not only does cold-pressed rapeseed oil provide a huge saving to businesses in comparison to olive oil, it’s also incredibly tasty and much healthier than typical pomace oils and refined olive oils. Cold pressed rapeseed oil is brimming with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, whilst the subtle nutty flavour and high smoke point make it a dream to work with – bringing not just flavour, but an elevated texture to foods.
But chefs don’t just want quality and flavour, they want ingredients that tell stories, with authenticity, character and sustainability at the core. As a carbon-neutral brand, we are proud to be the sustainable choice here in the UK and have been hugely encouraged by this industry shift championing British produce – and honouring it – in more ways than ever.
Find out more about the value of our cold-pressed rapeseed oil for food service, our sustainability work and our Mellow Yellow values.
Industry praise from Adam and James:
“I have used Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil since 2005 in all of my commercial kitchens and also in my kitchen at home. As a chef who is passionate about nutrition and sustainability, it ticks all the boxes for me and is exceptionally versatile and cost effective.”
– Adam Gray
“I love using Mellow Yellow, not only is it local, sustainable and far more cost effective than olive oil, but it is perfect when used around woodfire for its high smoke point, I have been using it for years and will continue to do so.”
– James Peck
Our team headed to the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards last week—an annual event that celebrates local food and drink suppliers, growers, and producers in Northampton. It was wonderful to be in a room with other like-minded folks, all striving for the same thing: to ensure the food we grow and create in the county is not just delicious and high in quality but also sustainable, ethical, and beneficial to everyone along the production line.
The Farming Environment Award is sponsored by Weetabix and recognises protocol growers who have supplied Weetabix within the last two years. It looks at growers who have taken meaningful steps to reduce the environmental impact of wheat growing, whilst taking measurable actions to reduce carbon footprint, promote biodiversity and practice regenerative agriculture.
We are so proud of our farm’s sustainable credentials and our ongoing work to promote biodiversity, so when Farrington’s Farm was announced as the winner of the GOLD award, we were naturally delighted! Of course, it’s always wonderful to win an award, but when it recognises the work, time, effort, and collaborative journey our team has been on to nurture our land and help it thrive, it is even more special.
Here are some of the reasons that led to our award win:-
– We are committed to regenerative agriculture and environmental preservation. And we are always looking at ways in which we can nurture our soil to ensure all of our crops, from wheat to make Britain’s favourite breakfast cereal, to rapeseed which we press on site to make Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil is the absolute best it can be.
– We are a LEAF Marque accredited producer and a LEAF demonstration farm. This means we have been independently verified under LEAF’s robust sustainability credentials.
– We stopped ploughing in 1998 and practice minimum and zero tillage to establish crops. Allowing worms and other little soil beasties to create a healthy soil full of life to help us grow our crops.
– To date, around 6,000 trees and over 8km of hedges have been planted, along with extensive wildlife habits created, improved, and maintained around the farm.
– Our farm was certified Carbon Neutral in 2020.
– A network of over 8km of well-maintained public rights of way invites people to enjoy the countryside.
Find out more about our approach to sustainability and our credentials.
We’re big fans of @emilyontoast here in the Mellow Yellow kitchen. A true creative at mustering up innovative, flavour-packed vegetarian meals and recipes, she has a penchant for anything on toast (as her Instagram handle suggests) and is a whizz with a bean!
Emily is known for her beautifully fresh seasonal dishes, with crisp, summer salads taking the stage in summer and warming winter stews and soups for winter. A big hit this year was her halloumi recipe series, which saw Emily conjure up a multitude of fresh vegetarian recipe ideas with halloumi – including this Mellow Yellow Potato, Pepper and Halloumi Traybake, which she made especially for Mellow Yellow.
We sat down with her to chat all things food…
What’s your desert island meal?
It’s probably a really good sourdough pizza with loads of garlic mayo for the crusts…
What do you love the most about food?
Other than the enjoyment of eating, it would have to be the creativity. The possibilities of combinations, new tastes, and flavours are endless.
Top go-to ingredient in your kitchen?
Hands down, it’s got to be sourdough bread. I’ve recently started to make my own and am completely hooked!
Most memorable meal?
It’s really hard to say one particular meal, but one side of my family is very food-orientated – we’ve lots of very good cooks in the family. On boxing day we always have the best spreads, where everyone chips in.
What is your favourite season for cooking?
Autumn without a doubt. Squash is probably my favourite vegetable. And as much as I LOVE salad season, I enjoy the shift towards more comforting meals when the weather cools down. There’s something so lovely and cosy about cooking and eating that kind of food when it’s freezing outside!
Cook Emily’s Mellow Yellow Potato, Pepper & Halloumi Traybake
Follow Emily on Instagram
Subscribe to her Substack ‘The Toast Chronicles’ for weekly recipe drops
Toilet Twinning directly addresses the global sanitation crisis by providing clean and safe toilets to those in need, perfectly aligning with our values and dedication to sustainable development.
Join us as we delve into the impactful work of this inspiring organisation, its transformative effects on communities, and how you can join forces with us to make a meaningful difference.
This year, we’ve proudly twinned with 3 toilets:
The Vital Mission of Toilet Twinning
Toilet Twinning addresses the global sanitation crisis by pairing your toilet with one in a developing country. For just £60, you can twin your toilet, funding projects that construct basic but vital latrines. This initiative provides essential sanitation and promotes health, safety, and dignity.
Why Sanitation is Crucial
Sanitation is a fundamental human right. But the statistics are shocking. 1.5 billion people in the world, almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own. This absence of proper facilities leads to severe health risks, educational setbacks, and economic instability. Diseases like cholera and diarrhoea spread rapidly in unsanitary conditions, posing significant threats to vulnerable populations, especially children. Every two minutes, a child under five dies due to illnesses caused by dirty water.
Furthermore, Toilet Twinning’s mission is directly aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 6, which aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all. By supporting Toilet Twinning’s initiatives, individuals and organisations contribute to the global effort to achieve this essential goal, thereby making a tangible and lasting impact on vulnerable communities worldwide.
The Transformative Impact of Toilet Twinning
Toilet Twinning’s work creates profound, positive change in the communities it serves. Here’s how:
1. Health Improvement: Access to clean toilets significantly reduces the spread of disease, improving overall community health.
2. Empowering Women and Girls: Safe sanitation facilities provide women and girls with the dignity and security they deserve, shielding them from any dangers. These facilities empower them to attend school and work confidently, without fear, opening doors to education and economic opportunities.
3. Educational Benefits: Schools with proper sanitation facilities see higher attendance rates, particularly among girls, who no longer miss school due to a lack of toilets.
4. Economic Stability: Healthy communities can focus on education and productivity rather than battling preventable illnesses, fostering economic growth and stability.
How You Can Get Involved
Join us in the mission to improve global sanitation is simple and impactful. Here’s how you can help:
1. Twin Your Toilet: For £60, you can twin your toilet, supporting the construction of a latrine for a family in need.
2. Raise Awareness: Share the importance of sanitation and the work of Toilet Twinning with your friends, family, and network.
3. Fundraise: Organise events or challenges to raise funds for Toilet Twinning, engaging your community in this vital cause.
4. Donate: Contribute to Toilet Twinning to support their ongoing, life-changing work.
Final thoughts
At Farrington Oils, our commitment to making a difference extends to supporting Toilet Twinning’s transformative mission. We believe everyone deserves the dignity and safety of a proper toilet, and we are proud to contribute to this global effort. Together, we can improve sanitation, protect health, and change lives for the better.
For more information on twining your toilet or getting involved, visit Toilet Twinning’s website.
Let’s work together to flush away poverty, one toilet at a time! Visit www.toilettwinning.org
As with most foods that you’ll find on the shelf, there are huge discrepancies in flavour, taste and texture, the majority of which come down to two things – quality of produce and production techniques.
Cultivation, ingredients, provenance, handling, packaging, storage – all of these factors play a HUGE role in how food looks, tastes and performs when we cook – not to mention the health benefits that it can bring to the table. Perfecting these processes form the foundation of everything we do here at Farrington’s Mellow Yellow, but it’s in our core method: the act of cold pressing our seeds, where the real conduit to quality and value lies.
A better way of doing things
In the same way that a cold pressed juice retains more vitamins, enzymes, minerals and antioxidants than it’s processed counterparts, cold pressed rapeseed oil offers very similar benefits. We never expose the seeds to heat, and we never add anything artificial. Our method simply allows us to extract every ounce of flavour from our seeds whilst maintaining nutritionally beneficial plant sterols, vitamins and healthy fats.
At Farrington’s Mellow Yellow our process is simple: we take the best quality seeds; mechanically squeeze them to release the oil and then filter through a large tea style strainer, before putting the fresh, pure oil in a bottle ready for you to enjoy. As part of this process, we carry out around 39 quality checks on every bottle of oil or salad dressing we make, ensuring only the very best is good enough. Simple pure Mellow Yellow pleasure!
Most culinary oils consumed globally are refined as opposed to being cold pressed. For olive oil this process includes using hexane solvent, phosphoric acid, caustic soda, water and temperatures reaching 250°C. For rapeseed oil the process includes hexane solvent and temperatures around 90°C. These industrial processes lose much of the quality, flavour and colour characteristics of the original oils. Refined olive oil is also referred to as pomace oil.
As the magic ingredient behind the healthy Mediterranean diet, olive oil is often perceived as the gold standard in oils. And it’s true – olive oil is great! But so are other oils too. And when it comes to health benefits, rapeseed oil supersedes olive oil in many ways, particularly when the oils are cold pressed.
At Farrington’s Mellow Yellow, we’re proud to produce a rapeseed oil with seeds originating from LEAF Marque grower farms and our own family farm here in Hargrave. We value traceability enormously and we are proud to be at the helm of our production line – sowing, growing and pressing the rapeseed oil into high quality, delicious bottles for you to enjoy at home.
Inflation; The cost of living; Global shocks; Food shortages; Extreme weather. The last couple of years have played host to an onslaught of major events, resulting in big price increases to the things we buy – particularly food.
We know the food service industry has been hugely impacted by these events. So, in this post we’re focusing on our Mellow Yellow values: the importance of ingredients, provenance, quality and fair pricing in the face of what appears to be huge changes for the British food industry. As producers of fine quality rapeseed oil, we understand that as chefs, business owners and fellow producers, you don’t want to compromise on values – especially when it comes to ingredients: the bread and butter of your business.
And we’re singing the praises of rapeseed oil – the gold nectar of our business – that brings a wealth of creative opportunities and quality culinary moments to your kitchen, without the same price hikes we’re witnessing across the olive oil industry.
The changing landscape of culinary oils
The Ukrainian conflict combined with the extreme heat and wildfires in the Mediterranean have led to massive inflationary pressures on culinary oils over the last two years, with prices doubling in many cases. Whilst the initial shocks of the Ukrainian conflict have somewhat subsided, the continued difficulties in olive oil producing regions due to extreme weather conditions and disease killing olive trees, is leading to a longer-term shortage of olive oil globally, with big price increases as a result.
These price hikes have inevitably imposed huge pressures on business margins, which is why, here at Farrington’s Mellow Yellow we have worked hard to keep price rises to an absolute minimum. It’s fair to say it’s not always been easy! Our electricity bill tripled at one point and the jerry cans we use seemed to be creeping up in cost with every new order. As a fair wage employer – we’ve also been conscious to ensure that our loyal team have fair pay rises. Despite these challenges, we’ve managed to pick our way through the hurdles and avoid reactionary panic price increases.
Excellent value for money
We like to think that our cold pressed Farrington’s Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil, Chilli Oil and range of dressings continue to offer excellent value for money, helping you maintain your margins at a time when other ingredients are escalating in price, with zero compromises on the quality of your food.
Looking at the graph below, it is clear to see how Mellow Yellow rapeseed oil compares to extra virgin olive oil (EVO) and pomace oil over the last two years, showing that you can continue enjoying the wonderful taste, versatility, health and sustainable values of Mellow Yellow, without a negative impact to your bottom line.
EVO has nearly doubled in price, while the inferior refined pomace oil has increased to the same price as Mellow Yellow. With Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil, you have the opportunity to use a premium, sustainably produced British oil with similar provenance to EVO, whilst it’s mild subtle nutty flavour and high smoke point make it truly versatile in the kitchen; it is the oil of choice for much of your culinary requirements.
There’s no need to resort to a refined commodity pomace oil when Mellow Yellow tastes better, performs better and is better for your bottom line. A premium quality ingredient that works hard for you in your kitchen. That’s the Mellow Yellow promise. That’s the Mellow Yellow value.
Food is an opportunity to nourish, refuel and energise the body. But it’s also an opportunity to experience flavour in all of its incredible shapes and forms. And for that – you need versatile products in your store cupboard!
In this post – the 4th in our Mellow Yellow Values Series – we’re focusing on the value of versatility across our full product range and the benefits that can bring to modern cooking, modern eating and modern life.
Help! Which oil?
There are multiple choices of oils and fats to use in our cooking repertoire. Some you may use occasionally for a specific recipe; others are more versatile as store cupboard essentials; then there’s that one lurking at the back of the cupboard collecting dust because you can’t remember what you bought it for! So much choice, so much confusion. So, which oils REALLY offer the best value and deserve pride of place in our kitchen?
Culinary oils are often segregated into two camps – one for cooking, one for drizzling. But what if there was an oil that was good enough to handle both? Saving you money, but also saving countertop space without any health compromises.
Farrington’s Mellow Yellow rapeseed oils and dressings offer the opportunity to become valued store cupboard essentials. Cold pressed for maintaining nutrients and known for its high smoke point, it’s the ideal meet-in-the-middle oil that’s a dream drizzled onto salads, or into a pan or roasting dish to cook a main meal.
The original Mellow Yellow Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil is a truly versatile oil. It has a delicious subtle nutty flavour, with buttery undertones; it is clean on the tongue and unlike some oils, it doesn’t have an oily, or bitter aftertaste. This clean subtle flavour allows other ingredients to shine through, and it’s the unsung hero in a salad dressing due to its excellent emulsifying properties and subtle flavour.
Mellow Yellow for cooking and baking
Mellow Yellow is ideal for baking breads and cakes due to its clean light flavour, it doesn’t overpower or taint a cake like a more robust oil. Whilst most people are familiar with butter or non-dairy spread for baking, Mellow Yellow is an excellent and healthy option in many recipes. We have plenty of delicious recipes on our website to inspire you – our Courgette Loaf Cake and Beetroot & Chocolate Cake being particular favourites. For something a little different, you could try our Chilli Oil in making a Chilli Chocolate Brownie – the perfect melody of rich and spicy! Feel free to experiment with your own ideas too – we love to see how you use Mellow Yellow in your home kitchen.
Mellow Yellow Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil has a high smoke point of around 230°C, making it ideal for roasting ovens, stir fry pans or air fryers. Impress your family and friends as you enjoy excellent crispy roast potatoes, crunchy croutons, bruschetta and crispy tender stir-fried vegetables. No soggy food dripping in oil – just brilliantly cooked food with flavour up front and centre, just how it should be.
Mellow Yellow for drizzling
Drizzled on a simple salad with a little seasoning and vinegar or worked into your own homemade dressing – our four classic Mellow Yellow Salad Dressings are packed with robust, clean and delightful flavours to elevate your plates.
Choose from Honey & Mustard; Balsamic Vinegar; Classic Vinaigrette and Chilli & Cumin, all ready-made for you, using the same quality ingredients you would use yourself at home. Our quality dressings are also a handy way to amplify the flavours in your homemade marinades and sauces. How about salmon fillet lightly cooked in Chilli & Cumin dressing for a refreshing aromatic dish? Or our classic Roasted Honey & Mustard New Potatoes ? There are plenty of ideas on our recipes page to inspire something different for dinner tonight.
A particular favourite of ours is our Seed & Nut Granola recipe, where the subtle nutty flavour of Mellow Yellow combines perfectly with chopped nuts, seeds and oats to make a delicious breakfast treat. Or, if you’re looking for something a little heartier, there’s always the full English! Whether you opt for vegetarian or meat – the sky is the limit with Mellow Yellow. Fried eggs, potatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, baked beans – we think you’ll agree, it’s a classic that never gets old.
Mellow Yellow for roasting and stir frying
It is high temperature cooking where Mellow Yellow excels compared to many other oils in the kitchen. Both the original Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil and the Chilli Oil are fantastic for roasting and stir-frying. Whether you’re cooking the traditional family Sunday roast, or challenging yourself with more international flavours, Mellow Yellow has the taste, functionality and versatility you need to make cooking a treasured, memorable and fun part of home life. We like to think of it as the valued kitchen counter essential ingredient.
Browse our exciting recipe pages for inspiration and ideas of how to dress, drizzle, marinade, bake, roast or stir fry with Farrington’s Mellow Yellow. Happy cooking!