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PROGRAMME INFO |
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From amaranth to zabaglione, Sheila Dillon and Derek Cooper investigate every aspect of the food we eat. |
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LISTEN AGAIN |
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PRESENTERS |
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- Derek's biography
- Derek's interview
- What do you know about Derek? |
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"Cooper is a man with tremendous gusto and passion for the pleasures of life and food, but he is also a man who has a blazing fury with those who are responsible for allowing our food supply to have become so contaminated and with those countless others who accept this state with apathy and disregard."
Journalist Colin Spencer |
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PROGRAMME DETAILS |
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APPLES
National Apple Day is on October 21st and to mark the occasion this week, Sheila Dillon takes The Food Programme to Herefordshire, to explore the rich world of English apple varieties.
Britain has lost more than 60 per cent of its commercial orchards and, in some English counties, as much as 95 per cent of its traditional orchards. But Sheila discovers there’s a hard core of support out there hoping their dedication will preserve our diverse varieties.
The little village of Much Marcle rests in the heart of the county, surrounded by orchards, and is home to The Big Apple, a weekend event introducing the public to varieties of apple not found on supermarket shelves.
Guests and Interviews
When Sheila went along to the event on Sunday 12th October she watched Mike Porter of the Marcher Apple Network identify eating apples brought along by people with apple trees of unknown varieties in their gardens.
Jackie Denman, organiser of the event, explained the importance of apple varieties and orchards, while at Reddingend Farm, Janet Chapman, who has spent much of her thirty year career growing apples for supermarkets, urges the large retailers to stock more traditional varieties.
Cider apple enthusiast Tony Malpas tells the fascinating tale of Herefordshire’s pomonas – illustrated apple surveys dating from the 19th century. Reporter Gerard Baker finds it’s not all bad news when he meets Angela Allison and Maureen Borrie who have set up Yorkshire Orchards to grow and sell traditional apples.
James Marsden, head of policy at English Nature and owner of Gregg’s Pit Cider and Perry in Much Marcle, describes the fine balance occupied by the nation’s traditional orchards, and Norman Stanier, of Dragon Orchard, sets out how crop sharing can help preserve orchards.
Back in the busy hall where the public inspects a vast range of cider apples Janet Mackay, owner of Jus, a small apple juicing business, shows how juicing and bottling the variety of apples from around the county is a new way of making orchards pay for themselves.
Nominations are still welcome for the 2003 Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards Personality of the Year. If you’d like to nominate someone who’s been a food inspiration to you then you can write to: The Food and Farming Awards, BBC Broadcasting House, London, WIA 1AA or email us at foodandfarmingawards@bbc.co.uk.
Further details about this award and recipes from the programme are available on the Radio 4 website.
Further Information
The Big Apple
Reddingend Farm
Reddingend
Much Marcle
Ledbury
HR8 2ND
Tel:01531 660664
Email:reddingend@lineone.net
English Nature
Yorkshire Orchards Ltd
White House Farm
Bolton Lane
Wilberfoss
York YO41 5NX
Tel:01759 380375
Tel:01759 305079 / 07714 209456
Email:sales@yorkshireorchards.co.uk
Common Ground
Sustain
Gregg’s Pit Cider
Much Marcle
Herefordshire
HR8 2NL
Tel: 01531-660687
Email:info@greggs-pit.co.uk
Dragon Orchard
Dragon House
Putley
Ledbury
Herefordshire
HR8 2RG
Tel:01531 670 071
Email:info@dragonorchard.co.uk
Jus
The BBC is not responsible for external websites |
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