KENTPRODUCERS
Kent Producers Special Feature CONT.
#HelpKentBuyLocal
When the first social distancing restrictions came
into force mid March, a week before lockdown,
Produced in Kent’s team sat together to discuss how
best to support its members in the weeks ahead.
With supermarkets straining to meet demand and
people encouraged to stay close to home, the team
understood that this was the moment to get vocal
about buying local, and the #HelpKentBuyLocal
campaign was born.
Understanding that in this unprecedented situation
all food and drink businesses would need its support,
Produced in Kent made a conscious decision to
promote anyone who would continue to grow,
produce, sell, and serve food and drink to the
residents of Kent. The hashtag started trending
within days on social media, and within a week the
brand new helpkentbuylocal.co.uk website
was launched. The website is currently showcasing
over 225 businesses in the food and drink sector who
are still open for business on an easy-to-use map, so
that customers can find available locally produced
food near their home. Businesses can list on the
website for free as the campaign is all about
connecting people and making the most of what
Kent has to offer.
Whether you want a home delivery veg box, or to
order a click and collect from a local shop, Produced
in Kent has brought it all together in one place.
There are also lots of drinks producers, from juice
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to cider and beer, wines and spirits, who have online
shops that can deliver safely to your door, hassle and
contact free. No one needs to miss out on birthdays
or other celebrations, with many artisan gifts available
to order online too. You might even just want to
send a gift and reach out to someone to say you are
thinking of them during these difficult times.
There are also many virtual ways to experience
Kent. We have already seen our first virtual lambing
day from Romney Marsh Wools, a virtual bluebell
walk in the woods from Hole Park and even a visit
to the Bambooserie at Great Comp – you’ll have
to visit their YouTube page to find out what that is!
Staying in is the new going out so why not arrange
a virtual wine tasting – most vineyards sell online
and some can be found in local shops and
supermarkets. Gather your friends online and try
something new – make tasting notes as you ready
for English Wine week on 20th to 28th June - you
will be one step ahead! Get your hands on some
local cheeses and it’s a cheese and wine event!
Wine Tours of Kent have even set up a virtual
tasting – wine delivered to your door with tutored
tasting by Zoom!
Why stop there? The pubs may be shut but if you
and friends/family plan a virtual meet up, plenty of
brewers and cider makers sell online and some local
pubs are selling take out drinks as well as food. You
SPADEWORK
can still have a locally sourced party/ BBQ, albeit
in a new way, plus you will be helping keep Kent
businesses going.
We have been overwhelmed by the number of
inspiring stories of how businesses are supporting
their communities – Kent knows how to pull together!
From Howletts’ Gorillas being fed from the kitchen
garden at The Pig at Bridge, to local charity
Spadework organising veg boxes for hard-working
staff at the Heart of Kent Hospice, to distillers all
over Kent making hand sanitiser for frontline staff
and Watts Farm delivering supplies to staff at NHS
hospitals. You can read all about it in our weekly
Good News Bulletin which is bringing a little
brightness to everyone’s day. Don’t forget to sign up
if you have not already, and don’t forget to Help
Kent and Buy Local!