PRODUCEDINKENT
MEET THE PRODUCER :
KENT VEG BOX
Vegetables exclusively from the Garden of England
FROM FARM SHOP ORIGINS TO PASSIONATE DOORSTEP DELIVERIES , KENT VEG BOX IS PROUD TO ONLY OFFER LOCAL PRODUCE , FRESH FROM THE FARM AND STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOOR .
Tell us the origins of Kent Veg Box
In August 2005 we opened a farm shop in Langley , Kent . Our goal was to make fresh , local food more accessible to everybody . Although other farm shops existed , they nearly all used national and international products . Often produce would be passed off as artisan or homemade through marketing when it was white labelled from big factories .
Our intention to only use produce from Kent was the inspiration behind starting the business , as we knew of the quality of it in the region . Alongside the shop , in an effort to help elderly customers who couldn ’ t always get to the shop , we started a small round of drop offs . This began to grow , and when we closed the shop in the 2008 recession to focus solely on the box scheme we moved to a purely online based business .
Over 16 years later , the goal hasn ’ t changed . We are called Kent Veg Box because it ’ s exactly that . Vegetables from Kent . Not ‘ mostly ’ from Kent , or ‘ where possible ’ from Kent . Our veg is exclusively from the Garden of England .
Why are you so passionate about this ?
We have core values as a company that runs through the business . The first is climate change and knowing that as individuals we can make a huge impact as a collective when we change small personal habits . Changing to food that ’ s sourced locally can drive down your personal carbon footprint . We source 100 % of a veg from Kent , very often from farms located under 50 miles from us . We also use climate friendly packaging where possible , with all of it being recyclable or biodegradable and all boxes are returned to us to be used again or recycled properly when they ’ re no longer usable .
We support small-scale farmers who are incredibly passionate about growing the best vegetables they can . So not only is it good for the planet , it has to taste better , right ?
Our growers don ' t grow for looks or for shelf life . The vegetables we purchase are grown to be eaten . This may sound daft , but with long supply chains the deciding factor for growers is almost always shelf life , not taste . With us , farmers can pick when it ’ s ready , safe in the knowledge that by the end of the week it ’ s been delivered to you .
We very often get comments when people first join us about how much better our produce tastes . When something is fresh , in season and delivered promptly you won ’ t believe the difference it makes .
Fresher vegetables are better for you . The longer that a vegetable is out of the ground , the more it ’ s nutritional value wanes . The vegetables you receive during the week are harvested Monday , meaning you get all the goodness that produce has to offer .
We love the work we do , and have done since we started in 2005 . If you want to read more , or are interested in joining the scheme , check out the website !
www . kentvegbox . com
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