Humble chippie goes organic

Would you like organic fries with that?

Upper Moutere's F'N'Chipa has given the traditional takeaway a green makeover – with a menu featuring organic potatoes, spray-free tomatoes, fresh fish, organic batter and bread buns and local produce.

Tony Watts and Amod Swami decided to turn the typical fish and chip shop into a largely organic eatery last year.

Watts said customers had responded well, with the tiny shop serving up to 150 meals a night.

"We are trying to look after our customers while getting them to question the quality of the processed food they eat," he said.

They use rice bran oil, grow their own burger lettuce, buy paddock-killed meat from a Nelson butcher, use organic flour in their batter and slice their pineapple rings straight off the fresh fruit.

Chicken disappeared from the menu when they could not find a reliable organic source, Watts said.

"The only processed item we have is the hotdog on a stick, because we cannot make them to a consistent size, and people love them."

However, the pair are developing gluten-free and vegan sausages.

"The driver is our own health and providing safe alternative takeaway meals" Watts said.

"People can't trust the food they buy now – everything is processed rubbish."

- © Fairfax NZ News