FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Mouthwatering morsels made from and using Kentish produce are aplenty at the Kent County Show. The Garden of England is well known for its fruit production and the county show hosts the National Cherry and Soft Fruit Show, where commercial growers from across the country also do battle with each other. Once judging in categories including taste, colour and uniformity is finished on the first day, visitors are welcome to peruse the large marquee to see the delights on offer. You can also buy the fruit – except the winning cherries, which, tradition dictates, must be couriered to Buckingham Palace for the Queen to tuck into. The extensive Why Farming Matters area has the theme of Kent Food Delivers this year. There will be cookery demonstrations from local chefs and farmers will be on hand to talk about the new Kent Food App, which promotes buying locally. Funded by Kent Downs and Marshes Leader, the app lists more than 500 producers, suppliers, farmers’ markets and restaurants, all of whom are committed to using produce from the county. Free to download, it aims to help small to medium producers reach you direct. Kate Excell, trade stand co-ordinator, said: “One of the most popular areas of the Kent County Show is the large International Food Marquee. “We have over 40 stands from both around the world and here in Kent.” Produced in Kent will have a large area with cheesemakers, meat producers and a host of homemade jams and chutneys.

Food and drink marquees are always a huge success at the county show