More national accolades for Bedford / St neots chilli expert

Joanna Plumb’s passion for growing chillies and promoting the benefits of really fresh locally grown produce continues to win accolades for the chilli specialist who runs Edible Ornamentals in Chawston.

Joanna has just been shortlisted as one of the UK finalists in the ‘Grower of the Year’ award. This competition is run by Horticulture Week and The Grower magazines in association with Asda, the Horticultural Trades Association and the National Farmers' Union, and celebrates the very best in UK horticulture.  Winners will be announced in February at a glittering awards event at the Lancaster London Hotel.

Joanna has also been selected as a finalist in the Countryside Alliance Awards. These are national awards which celebrate special contributions that have been made to rural life.  Edible Ornamentals, the nursery where Joanna grows over 40 varieties of chillies was nominated as an example of a rural enterprise that supports and promotes their local community.  The winners will be chosen by a panel including TV cook Clarissa Wright and representatives of the Daily Telegraph and Farmers Guardian and announced in March.

“It’s very rewarding that national organisations such as these recognise that even fairly small growers like us can have a significant impact on our communities,” commented Joanna. “Being selected as finalists will spur us on in our mission to encourage more people to use chillies in their own kitchens and experience the subtle flavours that really fresh ingredients can introduce into home cooking”

Edible Ornamentals has received several awards including ‘Local Food Hero for East Anglia by Good Food Channel’s Market Kitchen. Now recognised as one of the UK’s leading authorities on chillies, Joanna has featured on many TV programmes including ‘The One Show’ and Countrywise, was a special guest on Tom Parker Bowles’ Food and Drink programme on LBC radio and is a regular contributor to BBC 3 Counties radio.

More info about Edible Ornamentals

Edible Ornamentals is Cambridgeshire's / Bedfordshire’s leading producer of high quality chillies and a range of fresh vegetables that visitors can pick straight from the plant. As well as local farmer’s markets they also supply fresh chillies to Morrison’s stores in Eastern England via the ‘From My Farm’ brand as well as Harrods, Fortnum and Masons and leading London restaurants. Joanna’s special chilli sauces are available from the nursery and local Waitrose stores.

Edible Ornamentals has featured in the national daily press, The Economist and leading national trade publications The Grocer and Fresh Produce Journal.  Joanna has featured as a chilli expert  on BBC’s 3 Counties Radio, Radio 2’s ‘Chris Evans Show’, and Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’ and has appeared in several TV programmes including  BBC TV’s ‘Ready Steady Cook’, BBC 2’s Economy Gastronomy and Good Food Channel’s ‘Market Kitchen’.

Edible Ornamentals won the Best Effective Promotional Campaign category in the 2010 Conquest Business Awards, and was awarded the accolade of ‘Local Food Hero for East Anglia by Good Food Channel’s Market Kitchen.

In 2010, Edible Ornamentals also partnered with Virgin and offers special half day Chilli Experience days.

As well as fresh chillies and chilli plants, Edible Ornamentals also grow and sell a range of fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, aubergines, lettuce, Swiss chard, and sweet corn, which visitors can pick straight from the plant.