Local chilli experts Joanna and Shawn Plumb, who run Edible Ornamentals, Bedfordshire’s pick-your-own nursery at Chawston, have been awarded a bursary by Slow Food.

Slow Food, the international non-profit organisation which campaigns for good, clean and fair food, awarded the pair the gong as part of its support for many small specialist growers, so they can attend major national events and show people the real benefits of good food.

The award will help Edible Ornamentals continue promoting its passion for using the best in fresh produce by exhibiting its fresh chillies and home-grown chilli sauces at the MasterChef Live Show at London Olympia next month.

Sue Braithwaite of Slow Food said: “Joanna and Shawn have the same philosophy for good healthy eating as we do and it shows in their chillies not only looking good and tasting great, but they are grown in a way that respects the environment. More importantly, they actively encourage others to pick their own ingredients straight from the plant because they are fresher, healthier and so much better than using frozen or preserved ingredients.”

As well as exhibitors of good food and fresh produce, MasterChef Live will feature live cookery demonstrations from international chefs such as James Martin and Michel Roux Jr and popular presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace will be hosting daily cook-offs between previous contestants of MasterChef.

Joanna Plumb said: “This year has been fantastic for us. We’ve had so many more people coming to pick their own fresh produce and buying their own chilli plants. It may be the current financial climate that is stimulating people to look at more economic ways to prepare food, but they are finding that using fresh ingredients is not only cheaper, but it makes food taste so much better.”

The MasterChef Live Show is at London Olympia and opens on November 13.

Topics