Several fruit growers and a farm shop were among those named the county's finest at the 2014 Taste of Kent Awards last night (13 March).
Macknade Fine Foods farm shop in Faversham pipped Whitstable Produce Store to become the county's best food retailer for a third time after wins in 2009 and 2010.
Newmafruit in Chartham was voted Kent's best raspberry grower, withLangdon Manor Farm winning best strawberries, and Elverton Farms bagging best cherry for its Merchant variety.
Also shortlisted were AJ Barkaway and Newlands Juices of Faversham and Whitstable Produce Store.
The winners were announced at a black tie dinner held at the Kent County Showground in Detling.
Stephanie Durling, of organisers Produced in Kent, told The Canterbury Times: 'We would like to thank the thousands of people who took the time to vote in this, our tenth year.
'We are especially delighted that nearly 500 local businesses across the county were nominated for the awards.
'The battle for first place amongst the finalists has hard, with a really tough decision for our judges. The standard of products, produce, shops, pubs and restaurants is very high and Kent is firmly becoming established as a foody destination in the UK.'
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