Wealden residents are being encouraged to eat local produce this Sussex Day, Thursday 16 June.—Wealden District Council
“There is now so much more local food and drink produced in Wealden than ten years ago”, said Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet member for Economic Development. “It’s not just fine quality fruit, vegetables and meat but beer, cordials, yoghurts and preserves as well as some outstanding cheeses. Not to mention smoked fish, sauces and wines.”
“Supporting local grown produce helps reduce road traffic and keeps local people in jobs; and it is fully traceable so don’t just eat Wealden on Sussex Day… make it a habit for every day. There is no doubting the quality.”
Cllr Galley visited Sharnfold Farm Shop at Stone Cross to see the wide range of locally-sourced food on offer. Sharnfold Farm Shop won the Sussex Food Shop of the Year at this year’s Sussex Food and Drink awards.
The 76 acre farm was started by Dennis and Carol Hilsdon in 1983 and began providing pick-your-own strawberries in 1985. After a mini setback in the Great Storm of 1987 when its wooden shed blew away, Sharnfold opened a permanent brick shop in 2001, and added a cafe and butchers in 2009.
“We are now seeing so much more variety when it comes to the produce that is being made in Sussex,” said Mr Hilsdon. “There’s some fantastic products to choose from as well as wonderful fruit and vegetables which are at their best in season.”
Another good place to buy local produce are Farmers’ Markets. There is at least one every weekend in a Wealden town as well as regular country markets in villages up and down the District. Uckfield Farmers’ Market is on the first Saturday on the month, Hailsham Farmers’ Market on the second Saturday, Heathfield on the third Saturday and Crowborough on the fourth. Further details can be found on the Wealden website here.
Those interested in drinking Sussex can now obtain help through the South East Wine Route map, which is being sponsored by Wealden District Council and provides details of 36 vineyards across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, 20 of which are open to the public and the rest are open by appointment. Some 20,000 copies of The Wine Route Map are being distributed through tourist information outlets across the South East.
Next month sees the Wealden Food & Wine Festival taking place on 16 -17 July at Pevensey Castle and the Council is again sponsoring the Best Sussex Food Shop category in the 2017 Sussex Food & Drink Awards.
A helpful website for finding out about local food is the South Downs Food Portal which has a Food Finder to help locate places that sell local produce.
Details of other Sussex Day events taking place in Wealden can be found on the Events pages of the Wealden website.
