FOOD + DRINK
SEASONAL SUPERHEROES CONT .
As the hazy days of summer draw to a close and we pop the last cherries , strawberries and other Kentish summer fruits into our mouths , we look ahead to no less sweeter days ripe with pears , apples and plums as well as an abundance of green vegetables , simply perfect for giving our bodies that healthy boost we might need to get us ready and raring to face the winter . According to one of the world ' s leading health and wellness retailers , Holland and Barrett ( www . hollandandbarrett . com ) because seasonal produce travels such a short distance , it doesn ’ t spoil on the way and , as it has been harvested at the very best time , the taste is maximised . It is also for this very same reason that seasonal , local produce is also healthier for us too . “ It ’ s no surprise that being locked in cargo holds and shipping containers for days , in order to reach us , does nothing for the nutritional content of the food ,” claims the health expert . “ In fact , in many cases it ’ s detrimental . As a rule of thumb , the fresher the better , and you can ’ t get much fresher than eating seasonally grown local produce .”
When fruits and vegetables are out of season in Kent , they either have to be grown in managed conditions or transported from the other side of the world . Both of these processes cost lots of money , and that cost inevitably gets passed onto you , the consumer . When you eat seasonally , local produce can be grown in natural conditions , including upon Kent ’ s fruitful soil , and easily transported to the point of sale , making it much more affordable for you and giving more of that profit to the farmer .
When you buy foods out of season , the profits are mainly swallowed up by the transporter and the retailer – and it ’ s a safe bet that none of these are based in your local area . So , if supporting Kent and our community lies close to your heart , by buying locally you ’ ll constantly be feeding the profits back into your own community and making this wonderful county an even better and more prosperous place to live . It is important to remember , growers in Kent don ’ t down tools out of season ; someone somewhere will be growing fruit and veg or rearing cattle and catching fish . For those that aren ’ t churning out fruit and veg all year round , they ’ ll be working hard in all weathers to make sure they do when the season comes back round again .
So what exactly is in season at the moment in Kent and how can it benefit your diet and overall health ?
Whether September ’ s unpredictable weather is making you crave soup or salad , the in-season vegetables in Kent will cater for just about any dish . Salad staples such as beetroot , lettuce , peppers , tomatoes and cucumbers will all be available ; as will courgettes , spinach , runner beans and cabbage - just some of the favourites to make up traditional hot dishes . However , Kent ’ s abundant supply is not just limited to these , so many more delicious fruits and veggies are just waiting to be taken home and cooked up - and guess what ? They are much closer and easier to get your hands on than you might think .
It is not just Kent ’ s famed farm shops that stock and sell fruit and veg straight from the supplier . Kent is also home to a myriad of fresh food and produce delivery companies that will deliver straight to your door and even cater any special events you might have . Kent Veg Box ( www . kentvegbox . com ) have been delivering Kent veg for over 15 years , straight from the field to their customers ' homes . As Kent ' s only veg box company that uses exclusively Kentish produce , Kent Veg Box only supplies truly seasonal and local veg , with just a bit of citrus over the winter being their only import . “ Low food miles equals low emissions , it is that simple ,” say founders Steve and Becca . “ No one can fix climate change by themselves . We all need to do our little bit where we can . If we all do a little bit , it can add up to a lot .” But how might this also help our overall health ? Aside from being the fruit and veg we all need in a healthy balanced diet , as we have already established , local seasonal food is much better for us than non-seasonal imports . “ Once cropped ,” says Becca “ the vitamins and other goodness in the veg starts to degrade . The longer it takes before you scoff it , the less nutrition it has . Studies at Penn State University have shown that spinach can degrade by 50 % in eight days . Low food miles means our spinach is never more than three days old when you get it .” And let ’ s not forget about that all-important packaging too , “ by only using local suppliers we have no need for packaging to protect the produce from weather or dirt during long transport trips .” So you can breathe a further sigh of relief when it comes to planetharming plastic contribution .
KENT VEG BOX
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