Cumin (sometimes spelt cummin) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to East India. A folk etymology connects the word with the Persian city Kerman where, the story goes, most of ancient Persia's cumin was produced. For the Persians the expression "carrying cumin to Kerman" has the same meaning as the English language phrase "carrying coals to Newcastle". Kerman, locally called "Kermun", would have become "Kumun" and finally "cumin" in the European languages. In Northern India and Nepal, cumin is known as jeera or jira, while in Iran and Pakistan it is known as zeera; in Southern India it is called Jeerige or jeeragam or seeragam or jilakarra; in Sri Lanka it is known as duru, the white variety being suduru and the large variety, maduru; in Iran and Central Asia, cumin is known as zireh; in Turkey, cumin is known as kimyon; in northwestern China, cumin is known as ziran. In Arabic, it is known as al-kamuwn. Cumin is called kemun in Ethiopian, and is one of the ingredients in the spice mix berbere.

Mrs Crimble's was set up over 25 years ago. Long before the days of celebrity chefs having their own product range, our 'Home Recipe Biscuits' were endorsed by Fanny Craddock - then known as the 'First Lady of Food' - who said, 'they're the very best'.

At nairn’s we know our oats. We have been using them for over 100 years to bake tasty and wholesome food that is as simple and natural as possible. We use only wholegrain oats grown in the nearby Scottish Borders where the climate is perfect for slowly ripening the grains and where our farmers don’t need to use insecticides.

GOOD HEMP is great in tea and coffee, cereal or simply as a refreshing drink - One 250ml glass gives 50% of the omega 3 we need each day. It's low in saturated fat, easy to digest and cholesterol free. And because there is no Soya or Dairy in it, there's no need to worry about causing a hormonal imbalance, causing bloating feelings in your tummy or a risk of eating GM foods! And here's one more good thing, the hemp we grow for GOOD HEMP is great for the planet.

The origins of Equal Exchange stretch back to 1979 when three voluntary workers returned to Edinburgh after working on aid projects in various parts of Africa. Along with a sister organisation in London, Campaign Co-op, they started buying instant coffee from Bukoba on Lake Victoria in Tanzania. As a result Campaign Coffee was born. The volunteers had seen how small scale farmers were getting into debt due, in part, to the appallingly low prices they received for their products. Aid was not the only answer - direct, fairer trading could help redress the balance! Many years later, after bigger campaigns, more education and better products finally reaching independent retailers and supermarkets, the three volunteers' dreams are beginning to be realised.