Grower and Marks & Spencer supplier John Myatt & Co has scooped a trio of awards at the Taste of Kent Awards 2016.
The Rochester-based soft-fruit and cherry producer won best in class for its strawberry variety Magnum, raspberry variety Tulamen and cherry variety Vanda, beating off competition from over 40 other entrants.
Judged by the BBC's Countryfile presenter Matt Baker, the awards took place at the Kent County Show last Friday (10 July).
“We are absolutely delighted to have our fruit selected to win all three classes for the Taste of Kent Awards Garden of England Champion category this year,” said John Myatt. “These classes are particularly important to our farm as we always select particular varieties and pick at the optimum time to ensure the flavour is always at its best. We are a supplier to Marks & Spencer particularly because of the flavour of our fruit.”
Dr Mark Else, programme leader at awards sponsor East Malling Research (EMR), said: “Congratulations to the winner. Winning all three fruit categories takes a huge amount of dedication and an extremely high level of attention to detail. We are delighted with this clear winner – clearly a business at the top of their game.”
Paul Kelsey, chairman of the National Cherry & Soft Fruit Show said: “We are delighted to see the growth in the number of entries in these Taste of Kent Awards classes this year. This clearly justifies the collaboration between the National Cherry & Soft Fruit Show and Produced in Kent, the organisers of the Taste of Kent Awards, to raise awareness of Kentish fruit.”
Countryfile was filming at the Kent Show for its Summer Special episode to be shown on Sunday 26 July, and which will include the live preparation of a cherry salsa recipe with Dan Kennedy of the Kent Cookery School.
Matt Baker told BBC Radio Kent’s Drive Time programme he had “fireworks going off in my mouth”. “I had the honour of judging the tastiest cherry, oh the secrecy of cherry judging! I had three punnets in front of me and I was there for about half an hour but I had to make a decision,” he told the programme.
The Taste of Kent Awards begins with public voting between September and early January. Winners will formally receive their award at the Taste of Kent Awards Gala dinner, which takes place in March 2016.
No comments yet