AN INTRODUCTION TO PROVENANCE

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.