The soil and climate of the area, particularly along the coast, is ideal for the cultivation of many berries, with strawberries being the most popular. Since the 1800s strawberries have been grown and sold in
The soil and climate of the area, particularly along the coast, is ideal for the cultivation of many berries, with strawberries being the most popular.
Since the 1800s strawberries have been grown and sold in this part of Hampshire and were once the mainstay of some villages life. During the picking season, children were often missing from school to join in the harvesting, and railway lines were built to take the fresh fruit quickly to London and other urban areas. Demand has dropped since the 1960s when cheap imports flooded the market, but anyone who has tasted the fresh sun-warmed local varieties would agree that they cannot be surpassed in sweetness, fragrance, and taste!
Visiting a local fruit farm is a great day out and it is exciting for children to experience the excitement of looking out the ripened berries and taking them home to eat or to enjoy on a picnic. 91% water and rich in vitamin C, iron and potassium strawberries will not continue to ripen once picked so look out for the ready ones.
With a traditionally short season, fruit preservation has developed alongside the growing and there are several artisan makers of jams and preserves in this area.
Jams, jellies, and marmalades are heated with water and sugar until “setting” occurs due to the pectin contained (in apples, blackcurrants, and plums) or added to the fruits and then usually stored in glass jars. After sugar duties were removed in 1874, the production of jams and preserves became a busy local industry in fruit-growing areas. New Forest artisans are keeping this production alive with diverse ranges of jams, jellies and savoury preserves using locally grown fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes, squashes, and zucchini. The usual setting temperature is about 104 C and traditionally an open pan method is used. More commercial production uses vacuum vessels. Jams and preserves will keep for a very long time until unsealed.
Once you have tasted one of the locally made preserves, the mass-produced supermarket versions will just not taste too good – Lymington’s Goodall’s strawberry farm has a limited amount of jam and marmalades made by Pauline Goodall and I have not tasted jam like it since my Nan was alive! The Goodall family have farmed since 1912 and are open for pick-your-own from late May onwards (South Baddesley Road, SO41 5SG). There is a seasonal farm shop and Pauline will sometimes have some jam left when they are only still selling pumpkins and Christmas trees, but maybe get some if you go to visit to pick strawberries, cherries, new potatoes, blueberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, or redcurrants to be sure now to miss out. The availability of each fruit is updated on their social media pages and in the local press.
Not far away in Hordle, Jennifer of the Naked Jam company has established a thriving business, making jams by hand in traditional copper saucepans using only ethically sourced local produce. Inspired by the example set by her Mum seeking out local and foraged fruits, Jennifer aims to “capture as season in a jar” and to build relationships with local growers and farmers. After winning a national marmalade award in 2011, she has developed many new taste combinations – this all started when her sister had cancer and craved the taste of real home-made jams. If you would like to find out how to do this yourself, Jen runs workshops and can be contacted on 01590 683381 or jen@naked-jam.co.uk.
Why naked jams? Only the bare natural ingredients are used.
Also using produce from local suppliers, Ewelina in her home pantry in Sway’s Barrows Lane units, produces handcrafted jams, chutneys, pickles and marmalades with no artificial preservatives. This young developing business was founded only one year ago and recently won a bronze roundel in the 2022 World’s original marmalade awards and offers some very intriguing flavours! Just to mention a few there are apple, squash and ginger, spiced plum or peach and vanilla jam as well as chocolate apple spread. Ewelina’s artisan produce is sold at Lymington and Brockenhurst markets as well as many local farm shops and nurseries or contact her on Facebook or 07599 294293. She creates products based on local raw ingredients, inspired by the natural taste and smell of fresh fruit and vegetables, most of which is sourced from Sopley Farm or the New Forest Fruit Company. Ewelina is a member of Hampshire Fare and New Forest Marque, demonstrating her commitment to high standards and the natural environment.
Growing up in a large family where culinary knowledge and growing produce was part of life she was taught to not only commune with nature, but also value traditions and customs. Each of the Home Pantry’s products has a story behind it and combine the flavours and the learning instilled in her by her family. With her partner being a local chef fro more then 12 years, Ewelina has been able to also embrace the tastes of their adopted country.