THE Vale of Evesham is famed for producing fresh, seasonal asparagus.

The tasty green vegetable has been grown in the region for centuries and has helped put Worcestershire on the British produce map.

Every year Evesham hosts the Great British Asparagus Festival at the Fleece Inn, Bretforton where hundreds of people gather to celebrate the local produce.

Now in its fourth year, the festival is best known for its asparagus auction where bundles of the vegetables have been sold for more than £200, but it is also a chance for people to remember what is on their doorstep. A number of Evesham’s independent organisations are backing our Buy Local campaign – which ends next week.

Eric Jones, founder of the Evesham Arts Festival, has seen first hand the effect of a recession on the town centre. “One of the main reasons that we started an arts festival was because Evesham was becoming a ghost town,” said Mr Jones, who moved to the town in 2006.

“We’ve lost about 15 shops. “Evesham was awash with generic, conglomerate chains so when they started to fall we lost Roseburys, Adams, Woolworths and the Marks & Spencer food shop.

“A lot of the local, independent shops might be struggling, but they carry on.

“We are determined to make Evesham a place worth visiting,” he said Throughout the summer Evesham is busy celebrating its unique heritage and independent status, from the aforementioned asparagus festival to Evesham River Festival, which this year starts on July 10, and Evesham Angling Festival, which runs until August. Elsewhere, the town’s Riverside Shopping Centre is home to about half a dozen independent shops.

Centre manager Lisa Hopkins said: “We’ve lost so many of the big stores and that’s had a real impact.

“The independents are key to Evesham.

“They offer variety; something a little bit different and I know of people who will travel to Evesham for that.”

The town is also home to the Vale Voucher Club, where local, independent businesses offer cut-price discounts and deals in a further bid to attract people to Evesham and the surrounding area. There are car boot and markets throughout the year and a commerce and tourism associasion on hand to help.

For more information visit eveshamtown.co.uk.

Fresh produce winner

A WORCESTERSHIRE independent has been praised for producing fresh, local food.

Drews of Worcester, which is based in Little Witley, near Stourport-on-Severn, was crowned winner of the Fresh Produce category at the Heart of England Fine Foods Diamond Awards.

The awards aim to celebrate the best regional produce from across the West Midlands and Drews of Worcester impressed judges with its midi-plum tomatoes on the vine.

Paul Drew, who runs the local firm, said: “This is the first award I’ve ever won and I’m overwhelmed.

“It’s great to have my produce recognised in this way.”

Heart of England Fine Foods, a supporter of your Worcester News’ Buy Local campaign, formed in 1998 to promote and raise awareness of food and drink from the region.

For a full list of the Diamond Award winners visit heff.co.uk.