Wow, how quickly the past 12 months have flown by. Our combines have already been out in the fields harvesting all the delicious rapeseed that will now be pressed to make the next 12 months of Cotswold Gold oil.

Despite this year being a difficult one due to patchy weather – rain, sun, rain, sun – we are relieved to have the rapeseed now in and it looks to be in good condition. Charlie and the team have been out in the fields at East Lodge Farm this week checking this years crop – we have two new members of the team this year – Grace and Rob – so it was their first chance to see the combine harvesters in action and see what goes on during harvest.

All Cotswold Gold oil is made using only rapeseed grown on the family farm – East Lodge Farm – which is run by Charlie’s Father, Richard Beldam. This means that we can ensure the quality of the ingredient and therefore the quality of the oil. All the seeds we crush are grown and harvested on the family farm where we then store the seed so that we can press all year round to make our delicious oil. Our presses run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Cotswold Gold rapeseed in the farm store

Inspecting the 2016 rapeseed harvest

It is within the tiny jet-black rape seeds that the golden oil is locked up ready to be released through our presses. Each seed is pressed once only – making Cotswold Gold an Extra Virgin Oil – this is the same principle as Extra Virgin Olive oil, which means that only the richest oil in the seed is removed to provide you with the very best quality cooking oil, full of vitamins and omegas. See our nutritional information for more details of the nutritional content of Cotswold Gold Oil.