Wross Lawrence

Producer: Wross Lawrence, East Sussex
Product: Sea Purslane, wild
Region: London and South East
Category: From the sea, primary
What they do:
Wross is a former fisherman and tree surgeon turned wild forager from Brighton. Working with organic fruit and veg suppliers Abel & Cole, Wross sources the British sea vegetable wild sea purslane from the marshy banks of an English Channel estuary in East Sussex.
Wild sea purslane is available all year round but to ensure a sustainable harvest, Wross only picks the plant in small batches by hand.
The greyish-green, plump purslane leaves taste similar to the salty water they grow next to. They are packed with vitamins and minerals and are best eaten raw. They’re a natural partner to fish and seafood, but also work well in a salad or combined with garlic and pine nuts to make vegan pesto.

What the judges said:

The judges loved Wross’s dedication to the craft. Noting his respect for the region, they labelled him a "champion of local, natural produce" and were keen to know if he ever visits schools to teach local schoolchildren about the art of foraging.