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In a major county-wide initiative to deliver freshly grown and regionally produced food and drink to the county, Kent based food business Foodari, Produced in Kent and a major regional media group have announced the launch of the ‘Go Green - Food For Kent’ initiative today.

The remarkable online service has captured the public appetite for healthier, tastier, locally produced, seasonal produce, a trend that has been spearheaded by the nation’s leading celebrity chefs. ‘Go Green - Food For Kent’ brings together over 400 products and all the region’s finest local farmers and food and drink suppliers on the one-stop online shopping destination that will deliver direct to the consumer’s doorstep. Not only does this mean the site can compete with the convenience and choice of supermarket shopping, it will also offer a viable ‘green’ alternative that seeks to reduce Kent’s ‘carbon footprint’. The service is promising supermarket levels of service and competitive pricing, but with an online offer that is almost entirely grown and produced in the Garden of England.

Jonathan Parker, director of www.foodforkent.co.uk , said: “With all the economic doom and gloom I believe this initiative will be one of the most revolutionary forces to change food shopping habits for the better across Kent. Instead of compromising on food quality, cash strapped consumers can now conveniently fill their ‘virtual shopping trolley’ with high quality food and drink that has, almost exclusively, been locally produced in Kent. By using the service, consumers can know that they are helping to boost the local economy and protect the environment, buying quality produce that hasn’t been flown across the world.”

The launch immediately received the full support of Produced in Kent, the visionary non profit making organisation which works tirelessly to promote local food and support regional suppliers.

Julie Monkman, manager of Produced in Kent (which is backed by Kent County Council and Hadlow College), said: “This outstanding initiative is just what the county needs. As a nation the British public is becoming increasingly aware of the health and taste benefits of buying fresher, healthier food that is grown and produced in season. The upsurge in farmers’ markets, farm shops and independent retailers are testament to this trend in our county and we are delighted to help support Kent’s local producers and offer a genuine alternative to the powerful supermarkets in our region. Locally produced food not only tastes fresher and is healthier with more nutrients, it saves on needless packaging and waste and is a much greener option for the environment.”

With the national economic slump threatening local jobs and rural communities, the Produced in Kent backed initiative will seek to directly reverse this downward trend, as it stimulates regional demand and ploughs money back into rural communities, safeguarding jobs. Indeed, recent research showed that £10 spent locally is worth £25 to the local economy, whilst £10 spent in a supermarket is worth £14.

The ‘credit crunch’ has shown that the general public are more aware than ever before about prices and the new online service turns the misnomer that buying locally is more expensive on its head. Food For Kent’s price comparison shows that on like-for-like products it can match supermarket pricing and in many cases, customers can actually save money with lower regionally priced items. In addition, the site offers thousands of delicious recipe ideas, free of charge, for consumers to use.
Visit www.foodforkent.co.uk for more information.