Very soon farmers markets (especially our brilliant Bakewell Farmers Market) will be offering early spring crops such as rhubarb and asparagus. Also, growers who have greenhouses or poly tunnels can offer greens early in the growing season. After what seems like a long, cold, wet winter season the chance to have locally grown food available to add to meals is irresistible.
- Locally grown food is full of flavour
When grown locally, the crops are picked at their peak of ripeness as opposed to being harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to your local retail store. Many times produce at local markets has been picked within 24 hours of your purchase.
- Eating local food is eating seasonally
Even though we wish strawberries were grown year round, the best time to eat them is when they can be purchased directly from a local grower. They are full of flavour and taste better than the ones available in the winter that have travelled thousands of miles and picked before they were ripe.
- Local food has more nutrients
Local food has a shorter time between harvest and your table, and it is less likely that the nutrient value has decreased. Food imported from far-away countries is often older, has travelled and sits in distribution centres before it gets to your shop or supermarket.
- Local food supports the local economy
The money that is spent with local farmers and growers all stays close to home and is reinvested with businesses and services in the local community.
- Local food benefits the environment
By purchasing locally grown foods you help maintain farmland and green and/or open space in your community.
- Local foods promote a safer food supply
The more steps there are between you and your food’s source the more chances there are for contamination. Food grown in distant locations has the potential for food safety issues at harvesting, washing, shipping and distribution.
- Local growers can tell you how the food was grown
You can ask what practices they use to raise and harvest the crops. When you know where your food comes from and who grew it, you know a lot more about that food.
As the growing season starts and gets into full swing, we will be thinking about how we can add more locally grown foods to our guests welcome hampers and our menus. By doing so we are supporting and championing the many benefits of locally grown food.
With this in mind we are very pleased to support a new business in Bakewell ‘Sauced Here‘.
Sauced Here offers the convenience and similar choice that you might get from an online supermarket experience however everything at Sauced Here is hand sourced from the area’s top providers. Guests can place an order and Sauced Here will go to each of the purveyors, collect the items selected and deliver to their cottage during their stay or ready for their arrival … supermarket convenience, with artisan quality.
Just follow the link from our Local food & shopping page and start shopping, safe in the knowledge that you are supporting local businesses.