CHILDREN from St Mary’s Primary School in Burnham have been taken back in time to learn the value of local produce in Essex over the last 150 years.

The pupils were given the history lesson in an assembly provided by the East of England Co-op during its annual Sourced Locally Fortnight event.

Celebrating a landmark 150 years of supporting local producers this year, the East of England Co-op is working with food historian Monica Askay to educate children on Essex’s food history during Sourced Locally Fortnight, when shoppers are encouraged to keep it local and swap an item of shopping in their baskets for a local alternative.

Dressed in Victorian clothes, Ms Askay showed the school Victorian kitchenalia including a sugar cone and a sausage maker to the assembly and talked about Essex’s agricultural history, including its reputation for salt farming and growing saffron.

Children learned about a variety of Victorian foods and recipes including Saffron Cake, a regional favourite from the era, and were given the traditional recipe to try at home.

Ms Askay said: “The assembly has provided a fantastic opportunity to teach children about the rich and diverse local food history that Essex boasts.

“Showing children how recipes and their ingredients have changed over the years helped them to understand the important role of agriculture across the region over the last 150 years.”

Visit www.eastofengland.coop/sourcedlocally.