FOOD DIRECT FROM THE FARM

Promoting Quality Food

Find out about the Schools Food Challenge here

Food Direct from the Farm succinctly describes the food now consumed at the East of Engalnd Showground, whether for a Gala dinner, a conference or a consumer event.

Since its launch in 2003 by the Society to promote British Agriculture by sourcing all of the produce used in the Showground's indoor and outdoor catering operations from local farmers and food producers, the initiative currently supports over 30 local businesses from across the region and is continuing to expand.

In an aim to become the Home of British Food and following the successful launch of the Society's mobile catering unit, The Outdoor Kitchen, a catering wholesale operation at the Showground has been developed. Since then, the initiative has generated a considerable amount of media interest and was awarded Highly Commended at the Business Farming Awards in November 2005.

With over 800,000 visitors coming through the gates of the Showground each year, people will be guaranteed to eat locally sourced, fresh produce that is of the highest quality and best value.

Supporting Food Direct from the Farm means helping promote:-

British Farming and the Countryside
Rural Life and the Environment
Fabulous Local and Regional Food

By choosing to eat locally produced British Food you can:-

Help Improve the Environment We Live In - Buying locally means cutting down on food miles - the distance from farm to fork, helping to reduce pollution and create a better environment. The majority of Food Direct from the Farm suppliers fall within a 30 mile radius of the Showground
Promote Great Tasting Food - Unlock your tastebuds! Imported food grown for the UK market is often harvested early, left to ripen artificially and uses large amounts of chemicals for preservation, often resulting in bland tasting food.
Put Something Back Into the Local Economy - Choosing to source foods locally will help regenerate the local economy and save rural communities which are in danger of disappearig as local farmers and shops struggle to compete in a global market place. Food Direct from the Farm is expected to put at least £500,000 back into the local food economy each year.
Get Better Value for Money - Often perceived as more expensive, food direct from the farm is by far more nutritious than processed food, ensuring the food you eat is free from additives, artifical colourings and fully traceable.
Support Animal Welfare - Brtiain is recognised as having some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world. Buying British helps maintain these standards ensuring the animals that produce the food we eat are well looked after.

Taste the difference for yourself and meet the people that make your food at www.fooddirectfromthefarm.org.uk

If you are interested in becoming a supplier, contact:-
Julie Robb
Telephone 01733 234451
Fax 01733 370038
email info@eastofengland.org.uk

Schools Food Challenge:

The Food Direct from the Farm scheme also operates the annual Schools Food Challenge, in association with the Academy of Culinary Arts and the Prince's Trust.

The Challenge involves teams of five year 9, 10 and xl club pupils from schools in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk devising a recipe for a main course and desert which fulfils a certain brief. 2009's brief was to prepare a typical English meal for an overseas visitor.

The pupils then come into the Showground's kitchens to prepare their meal in just 45 minutes. From these preliminary rounds, eight teams were selected to go through to the finals, to cook on the food demonstration stage on the Friday of the East of England Show. Here they had to cook their meal again, this time in front of an audience, and while giving a running commentary. They also produced an information board focusing on the importance of using British, locally sourced produce.

The school team awarded the highest number of points from all aspects of the Challenge was presented with the prestigious Schools Food Challenge Trophy together with a cheque for £500. The Princes Trust xl club awarded the highest number of points from all aspects of the Challenge was also awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy as well as a cheque for £500. All participants in the competition will be given a complimentary family ticket to the East of England Show.

The winners of 2009's Challenge were Redbourne Upper School from Bedfordshire and Shoeburyness xl Club from Essex.

Hot Soup News!

The Schools Food Challenge now includes a Junior Schools Soup Challenge open to Junior Schools in the region to devise a mouth-watering soup recipe which will be sold at the Christmas Festival.

The Challenge, now in its third year encourages younger children to think about flavour combinations as well as local and seasonal foods. The finalists will come to the Showground’s kitchens to advise the chefs who will cook their recipes. Three soups will then be selected for sale at the Christmas Festival, with the profits from the sale going to the winning schools.