Why buy British Fruits & Vegetables?

Why does eating seasonal British fruit and vegetables matter?

It makes economic sense to eat seasonally as fruit and vegetables are sold more cheaply when there is a glut.  Use a seasonal glut for stocking up your larder. For example, making tomato sauce using surplus tomatoes in late summer to see you through the winter months.

Eating seasonally has health benefits too: foods in season contain the nutrients, minerals and trace elements that our bodies need at particular times of year. For example, British Food Fortnight marks the shift from summer to winter and the fruit and vegetables that are coming into season then, such as butternut squash and apples, are packed with vitamin C to boost our resistance to winter colds.

With calls for us to eat at least five portions a day, fruit and vegetables are taking a more prominent role in menu planning. Think about pairing fruits and vegetables with produce that is grown or reared in the same locality e.g. watercress and trout from the rivers of Hampshire or apples and pork from the orchard-filled fields of Gloucestershire.

See our What’s in Season when page for a downloadable chart on what fruits and vegetables are in season at different times of the year.

Grow your own!

There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own fruit & veg and there is lots of resources and support that can help get you going. Below are just of couple of examples to help get you going:

·     Eat Seasonably provide tips and guidance on how and what to grow when.

·     The Royal Horticultural Society lists fruits and vegetables alphabetically, with information on each plant and how to grow it.

·     See our recipe pages for delicious fruit and vegetable recipes.

Advice on particular fruits and vegetables – our favourite sources on the web

Asparagus  https://britishasparagus.com/index.html

Tomatoes http://www.britishtomatoes.co.uk/

Leeks  http://www.britishleeks.co.uk/

Brassicas http://www.loveyourgreens.co.uk/

Watercress https://www.watercress.co.uk/
Shallots http://www.ukshallot.com/

Summer fruits http://www.britishsummerfruits.co.uk/

English apples and pears https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk

Bramley Apples http://www.bramleyapples.co.uk/