Fresh & Frozen focus: Fresh from the fields

With publicans knowing only too well what an unpredictable beast the British weather can be, readers will understand why it was with a certain amount of caution I accepted an invitation from Brakes to spend a day in June trudging around a strawberry farm in Kent.

I wasn't the only visitor that day armed with wellies and an umbrella, but as it turned out the day in question was one of those sunny June days that makes you wonder why anyone ever feels the need to holiday abroad.

As the sun beat down on Andrew Boxhall's strawberry farm in the village of Sutton Valence, I had a sudden craving for a career change, although no doubt the life of a strawberry grower is somewhat less idyllic on a wet Tuesday in November.

The Boxhall family has operated the farm for three generations. Andrew's strawberries have won many awards, and he puts much of his success down to the tabletop method he pioneered.

This sees the strawberries raised off the ground to roughly shoulder height, which has the advantage of lifting the berries away from dirt and pests, and protecting them from damage.

It also increases productivity, since pickers don't have to stoop, and allows the grower to control watering. The berries are grown in polythene tunnels which protect the delicate plants from bad weather and increase the growing season well into the autumn.

Andrew mainly grows the popular Elsanta variety, which he sells to Brakes as well as a number of supermarkets. Since the Elsanta is a copyrighted variety, the plants are discouraged from putting out runners, from which new plants are grown, with judicious use of the secateurs.

This has the dual advantage of ensuring the plants put all their energy into producing berries, as well as giving the variety's owners a guaranteed market.

Andrew has opened a state-of-the-art packhouse which allows the berries to be rapidly cooled after harvesting to maintain a 'just picked' flavour and freshness. Brakes' customers can be serving strawberries from Sutton Valence less than 24 hours after picking.

The day also saw Brakes' development chefs prepare recipes using fresh Kent strawberries, and a video demonstration was recorded to appear on Brakes' website.

To try these dishes visit the recipe section using the related story links.