An action plan to develop greater use of local fresh produce by health authorities, catering suppliers and their distributors is being put together to benefit growers and ultimately consumers by Food and Drink from the South East.
At a seminar held in Paddock Wood last week, Tim Read, chief executive of Produced in Kent, claimed that ‘local food is fresher, healthier and tasted better.’
And as significantly it supported the local economy. The contribution is four times the equivalent when spent in the local supermarket, he added.
Melissa Love, public project manager for the partnership run through Defra, which covers eight counties in the South East, suggested the future lay with establishing networks of both producers and suppliers to achieve greater volumes, and a better understanding of what horticulture could offer.
Even though the market is valued at £150m, research has shown in the complex world of contract buying, local sourcing is believed to be either too difficult or too expensive even though the strategy is to increase local produce and production.
Love believes that eventually trusts will have a legal obligation in their contracts to supply local foods.
Mike Tiddy, responsible for the NHS supply chain, sees a reduction in the length of the distribution chain playing a major part, following the exposure that has benefited the Fruit for Schools project.
Meanwhile one of the biggest stumbling blocks appears to be that initiatives, claimed trust buyers and suppliers alike, were being throttled by red tape.
Michele Clements, catering manager of HCA Central Branch, said there was a lack of knowledge of local products and seasonality, so it was easier to use national contractors.
Colin Williams of Invicta Produce, which markets brassicas grown in Thanet into the multiples, corrected the impression by painting a picture of a modern industry with total traceability which could compete on price, provided production was planned.
“But don’t think you can buy broccoli 52 weeks a year from Kent,” he said.
