Where to get the best produce.

9:17am Monday 7th January 2008

After two or three weeks of cakes, chocolates, wine and beer, a lot of us are now beginning to regret that extra mince pie or final bottle of claret on Boxing Day. With the new year now upon us, a lot of people are resolving to shed a few pounds and ensure a healthy start to 2008.

There's no better place to begin your healthy regime than your local farmers' market. Local producers offer a wide variety of top quality, fresh produce, including everything you could want for a healthy detox regime to help shift those few extra pounds put on over the holiday season.

Fruit juice plays an important part in any diet, and you can buy pressed local juices at your farmers' market.

Mike Sinclair, of Newtown Wines, near Newent, said: "Our juice is made from Discovery apples. It's just juice - it's so healthy for you. I press it and then it's pasteurised at Pershore College. It's all natural and tastes of real apples.

"I belong to a male voice choir. I've been having trouble with my throat and I went to see a specialist. She recommended that I drink two litres of water a day. I asked if I could drink our pressed apple juice and she said apple juice was one of the best things you can drink. My throat is very much improved."

Winter vegetables can offer all the nutrients you need for your detox diet. Five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is just as achievable during the winter months as it is during the summer. Our recipe for this week is perfect for a winter detox, as long as you use fresh meat and vegetables, all available at your next farmers' market.

Beef, vegetable and barley stew: Two pounds of lean beef, diced into one inch pieces Salt and pepper to taste Four tablespoons vegetable oil Six ounces chopped onion Six ounces sliced carrots Four ounces of Brussels sprouts Half a teaspoon of minced garlic A quarter of a teaspoon dried thyme Half a pint of chicken or vegetable stock 20 fluid ounces of water Four small potatoes, cut into chunks Four ounces of pearl barley Season the beef chunks with salt and pepper to taste. Place the beef in a large saucepan. Add two tablespoons of oil and saute for five minutes on a high heat. Remove meat. Add two more tablespoons of oil to pan and add onions and carrots. Saute for five minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and thyme to pot and saute for three more minutes.

Add the chicken or vegetable stock and the water to pot. Add the Brussels, potatoes and barley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir all together and bring to a boil. Cover pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for one to one-and-a-half hours.

This weekend's farmers' markets are at: Victoria Square, Droitwich, today, from 9am-2pm Royal Worcester Porcelain, Worcester, on Sunday, January 6, from 10am-2pm,

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