34
FOOD
The Watercress Revolution
An update on the wonders of watercress!
Tom Amery, known as
the 'Watercress Guru',
is managing director of
the UK's largest grower
of watercress, The Watercress
Company, based in Dorset. As a
dedicated advocate for this highly
nutritious, peppery leafy green
that has been recently declared the
'world's healthiest food'*. his mission
is to bring watercress back into the
spotlight and help people rediscover
its incredible nutritional value.
Far more than a garnish, no
other square metre of crop could
produce multiple harvests and offer
such nutrient density as a naturally
fertilised, non-polluting watercress
bed. It's incredibly rich in vitamins,
minerals and antioxidants, which,
according to the ANDI nutrient index,
ranks it way ahead of superfoods
such as blueberries, edamame,
broccoli or spinach.
Watercress is known for its
ability to improve water quality.
The mineral-rich, fertile rivers
and streams that flow from the
watercress beds provide a healthy
ecosystem with critical habitats
for a variety of species, including
endangered white-clawed crayfish,
eels, slow-worms, grass snakes,
minnows and toads with owls in the
nearby trees.
A unique crop
Amery studied Commercial
Horticulture at Writtle College
which cultivated his love of nature
and pursuit for sustainable farming
practices. Then an overseas trip
to Zimbabwe and Australasia,
undertaken after attending college,
encouraged him further. On his
return to the UK he searched for a
unique crop to work with.
He joined The Watercress
Company in 1999 as Trainee
Technical Manager, now nearly 24
years later, there are few people who
know more about the cultivation
and wonder of watercress. Amery
works tirelessly to invest in
watercress research, developing
growing practices with the team, and
handling the challenge of delivering
fresh watercress to consumers
throughout the UK. Amery says, "I am
on a mission to elevate watercress
to its rightful place in our diets.
It's not only a delicious choice, but
a responsible one for our health
and the environment. Just adding
watercress to our diet once a week
will impart significant health benefits
and improve our wellbeing."
To encourage the nation to
embrace watercress, Amery
collaborates with chefs to develop
innovative recipes. Over the years, he
has worked with people such as The
Hairy Bikers, Marcus Wareing, Jamie
Oliver, Mary Berry, Raymond Blanc,
John Torode and other food heroes in
order to spread the word about the
versatility and unique flavour of the
ingredient.
The thriving Watercress Company
that Tom operates serves as a
model for responsible agriculture,
showcasing the importance of clean
water sources and low-input growing
practices. The UK-based company
runs farms across Hampshire,
Dorset and - for winter supply - in
Jerez, Spain.
Amery says, "Watercress
is nature's immune-boosting
powerhouse. Incorporating just
one portion to your diet once
a week will be a delicious step
towards supporting your health
and resilience."
Well he would say that wouldn't
he, so don't just take his word
for it! Award-winning registered
nutritionist, Dr Lucy Williamson says,
"The key to a good diet is eating a
variety of 30 different plants a week
(don't worry, that includes spices,
nuts, pulses and herbs too). Just
including watercress once a week
is a fantastic way to boost your
nutrient levels."
* The Aggregate Nutrient Density
Index or ANDI is a scoring system
that rates foods on a scale from 1
to 1000 based on nutrient content.
Developed by Dr. Joel Fuhrman,
ANDI is assigned to whole foods
that contain the highest nutrients
per calorie. A study by the American
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) is making the
rounds for awarding watercress, a
leafy green, a perfect 100% score on
their scale of 'powerhouse fruits and
vegetables'.
www.watercress.co.uk