We have been growing asparagus at Friday Street Farm for nearly 20 years now. We start picking around the second or third week of April and continue until the 21st June. A short but very enjoyable season.

The health advantages of eating asparagus are well documented. Its an excellent source of vitamin B folate. This is a vitamin that we all need but is especially important for women trying for a baby as it reduces the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida. Folate also helps to reduce levels of homocysteine. Homocysteine can clog blood vessels to the heart and brain causing heart disease and stroke.

It also contains a prebiotic fibre called inulin. Inulin helps stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut. If you find those drinks offering the same properties are not for you, why not try asparagus instead.

Is it an aphrodisiac? The evidence for this is limited, as it is for anything that claims to have these properties. This is because it is very difficult to scientifically measure these things. All I can say is that it works for me!

Asparagus has a growing popularity within the country as a whole, as more and more people are realising that for flavour there are few vegetables that can touch it. It is expensive compared to other vegetables but this is because harvesting has to be carried out by hand, which is an expensive process in itself. Its ability to be an eating experience all on its own however, makes buying more than worthwhile.

Currently we supply a variety of people with our asparagus. A lot we sell direct from the farm, as well as supplying local farm shops and various high class restaurants in Kent and London.

www.british-asparagus.co.uk
www.harwoodsoflondon.com
www.producedinkent.co.uk

Kent and strawberries seem to go together like peas and pods. This is because Kent has the perfect soil and Climate in order to grow them.

We are still one of the diminishing amount of growers that believes in growing strawberries in the soil. We do not use imported peat or hydroponics to produce our crop. A strawberry from Kent that has gained its flavour from the soils of Kent is something that we believe in.

Picking starts late may and we continue production right through to the start of October when an early frost and the diminishing light quantities put pay to our efforts.

We try to market our strawberries in a similar manner to our asparagus, attempt to supply as locally as possible. The majority are distributed by County Produce Marketing but we do also supply local farm shops.

Strawberries have many health benefits. Antioxidants help to protect cell structure within the bodies organs. The large quantities of Ellagitannin to be found in strawberries make you 3 times less likely to develop cancer in your later years.

They are also an excellent source of vitamin C. Just one cup of strawberries will give 136% of your daily minimum need, much better than an orange can provide. Vitamins k and B5 can also be found in abundance. They are also a wonderful source of dietry fibre, potassium, folate, riboflavin, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, magnesium and copper.

Plus, lets face it, they taste absolutely fantastic!

www.countyproduce.co.uk

Apples

Apples play a big part in the Governments 5 a day campaign with British apples (including some of our own) being used in the "Fruit for Schools" scheme.  From a health point of view, apples have been shown to benifit lung function.  Two apples a week reduces the risk of asthma by 22-32%.  An apple a day does keep the doctor away but not the dentist as we all know that a good apple is sweet and juicey.  So watch those teeth! 

We currently grow a several different varieties of apple. We have within our orchards Cox, Worcester Pearmain, Egremont Russet, Breaburn, Sweet Lillibut, Discovery and Katy apples.

The vast majority of our apples are sold in the supermarkets via Norman Collett Ltd.

www.normancollett.com