Perry Court Farm (PCF) is offering up its apple crisps as a healthy alternative following the release of a report on the nutritional content of children’s lunchboxes.
A study by consumer group Which? found from 1.8g salt in some products to 23g of sugar in others, with potentially damaging effects, but PCF believes its product offers a promising option.
Its apple crisps were created by 22-year-old Charlie Fermor, who came up with the idea while studying for a degree in agriculture at Reading University. Made using home-grown apples, the crisps are the ultimate in healthy eating as nothing is added or taken away; the process simply involves the apples being picked, washed, cored, sliced, dried and then packaged.
Classified as part of your 5 A DAY, containing just 0.2g of fat and only 76 calories per packet, they are seen as a viable alternative to many lunchbox snacks.
Fermor said: “It is shocking facts such as those published by Which? that made me want to create the crisps in the first place. I grew up on a farm in the countryside and have always led a healthy lifestyle. However, when studying at university I was shocked at how snacks become a substantial part of the student lifestyle and nearly all of what was on offer contained ridiculous amounts of sugar, salt or fat. With my family’s farm specialising in growing fruit I wanted to create a product that was fruit-based but that still could be sold in vending machines and newsagents across the country. Apple Crisps were the natural answer.”
PCF has been operating on its site in Ashford, Kent since 1949, growing more than 100 varieties of fruit and vegetables, focusing largely on apples and pears.
