Whilst researching local food producers involved in the up-coming Glynde Food festival, I came across Julian Warrender’s name. I took a trip out to Plumpton Green where she makes her chutneys and jellies by hand for the Ouse Valley Food company. Julian got on with making some Cranberry Jelly as we talked, and the vapour coming off the boiling pots of fruit and sugar was intoxicating.

Name: Julian Warrender.
Tell us about your company: I started making and selling my own jellies and chutneys from home three years ago. I was debating what name to use, and then, whilst walking along the riverbank, I caught sight of a heron. The crane or stork is hugely symbolic as a bird of abundance, so I thought I’d call my company Ouse Valley Foods. The business kept expanding until we burst out of home, and we moved to this unit about a year ago. I wanted to keep a rural location. I’m an old hippy really, but I believe where you place yourself matters. Integrity is something that is important, and all my business decisions are rooted in it. We use the best ingredients. We don’t cut corners and we don’t over-merchandise. We do all the sourcing and buying ourselves. For example, we get excellent plums from Bob’s Orchard down the lane from here, which also provides us with honey from the bees that pollinate the flowers.
What are your most popular products? We have a big range. I thought customer demand would whittle down the number of varieties, but it hasn’t quite worked like that. Red Chilli, Mint and Green Chilli, and Ginger and Green Peppercorn Jellies are all very popular.
Tell me about your cooking: I am self-taught. I’ve never been told not to have a go. I grew up on a farm in Somerset where we were all expected to pull our weight, so I was in and out of the kitchen. I was feral, I loved being outdoors, in the vegetable garden or with the guy who went shooting. I felt incarcerated at school.