Regional food group brand Select Lincolnshire was out in force at The Restaurant Show from Monday to Wednesday this week promoting home-grown fruit and vegetables to visiting chefs and caterers.
As a response to last year’s lack of fresh produce stands at the show, Select Lincolnshire filled its stand with Lincolnshire fresh produce supporters, including QV Foods, Marshalls and Fenmarc.
Select Lincolnshire’s project manager Jill McCarthy told FPJ: “We noticed a gap in fresh produce promotion last year, so this year we are rectifying it. We are also holding a Meet the Chef event in two weeks time in Lincolnshire with chefs from London. This will also focus just on fruit and vegetables and will be similar to the Meet the Buyer events, where each chef will have a 30-minute appointment with a producer.”
Select Lincolnshire ambassador chef Rachel Green was also on the stand cooking Marshalls new brand Bellaverde for delegates. “Fruit and vegetables make up a good deal of our meals in restaurants and can make or break a good dinner,” she said. “I have been shocked by the blinding lack of knowledge I have experienced at the show. There is too much focus on the basic fruit and vegetables. We should be looking beyond the basic varieties.”
New Spitalfields Market was also flying the flag for fresh produce at The Restaurant Show and had received a good deal of interest from caterers.
Jim Heppel, secretary of the New Spitalfields Market Tenants’ Association, said: “The market’s work with caterers and catering companies is becoming increasingly important and so it is crucial we are here to tell the chefs where the stock comes from.”
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