FOOD PRODUCERS NORTH YORKSHIRE

Provenance is a documentary, written and photographed. Its subject matter is the people who produce, prepare and sell real food. By that we mean food where the way it is grown is more important than the volume that is grown; where attention to quality triumphs over pressure to cut costs; and where produce is fresh and local.

Provenance does not aim to be a directory. Rather Provenance seeks out the fascinating stories told by the people who spend their lives producing and preparing real food for our tables. Like the North Yorkshire dairy farmer who bought a buffalo because his son was allergic to cows’ milk, and now has a 250-strong herd, producing excellent local mozzarella.

Provenance constitutes a series of simple portraits accompanied by short pieces of prose telling the stories behind these remarkable people.

A "beautiful little book"
Brian Turner

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE

PROVENANCE BOOK

Something rather strange is happening around the dinner tables of middle England. We are no longer just talking about the weather, or Wimbledon, or what we would do if we won the lottery. Instead we are all suddenly talking about what is on our plates. Where it came from, and what was done to it before we brought it home.

And instead of groaning on about farmers getting fat on subsidies and set-aside, we talk of food producers needing to be supported. We declare that we would happily pay more for our food if that meant it wasn’t pumped full of hormones and colourings and goodness knows what else.

 

The British are finally becoming European – or at least, like the French and Italians, we are starting to celebrate good food, local food, tasty food. Our addiction to low cost processed meals is making way to a love of culinary excellence.

Provenance does not mean to preach. It is a project dedicated to the resurgence of interest in local food production and preparation, and celebrates those people who do not cut corners and who do things properly.

 

The Provenance project has many forms – exhibitions, a series of books, a website, and DVDs – all of which will tell stories in pictures and words about some of the people who still produce food and drink for our tables which they can be proud of. It is hoped Provenance will be inspirational, provocative, and rather beautiful.

 

KEEP ME INFORMED Submit your email address here if you would like to be kept informed about the Provenance project, including forthcoming events and books published. You can also subscribe here for event updates about the annual York Festival of Food and Drink. Your e-mail address: Provenance York Festival of Food and Drink