A NATIONWIDE campaign was launched this month urging pubs, cafes and restaurant to use more British food during next year’s London Olympics.

The Must Be British campaign is urging the catering industry to back Britain during the 2012 Olympics by increasing the amount of British food they serve up to the 300,000 or so visitors that are expected to pour into the country for the games.

Campaign organiser Ruth Anslow says: “This is a massive opportunity to give Britishgrown food a boost by getting it on menus everywhere during the Olympics and making sure millions of pounds stays in the British economy.”

That’s great, Ruth – but there is no reason why we all can’t start using locally-grown food right now. Why wait for the Olympics?

If you head down to your local Worcestershire farmers’ market this weekend you can expect to find a fabulous range of locallygrown or produced food that will not only taste great, but be good for the local economy as well.

WORCESTERSHIRE LAMB AND ASPARAGUS

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
700g lamb, cubed
250ml dry white wine
300g chopped fresh asparagus
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Method

Heat olive oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened.

Add the lamb and cook until no longer pink, about five minutes.

Add wine and bring to a boil then simmer. Cover and cook until lamb is cooked through and tender, about 15 minutes. Add asparagus, cover and cook until softened, about two minutes.

Season with salt and pepper and serve with baked potatoes.

Serves four.

Today’s farmers’ market is in Abbey Road, Malvern, from 9am until 2pm. Next weekend’s markets are at St Peter’s Garden Centre, near Worcester, on Saturday, May 28, from 9.30am until 2pm and don’t forget the annual Evesham Asparagus Festival, at the Fleece Inn, Bretforton, from 11am on Monday, May 30