A joint Sainsbury's and NFU exhibit has won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for the seventh year in a row. The winning display incorporated flowers, fruit and vegetables and plants - all with a UK theme.

Vanessa Hughes, Sainsbury's cut flower buyer told freshinfo: 'It's great that our suppliers can send produce of such excellent quality that it can be used for display purposes at Chelsea. We have a number of suppliers and they love getting involved. This year's exhibit was sectioned into four main areas, each with a distinctive colour and feel. Strawberries and tomatoes reflected the current back to nature feel, while simple garden plants, delicate foliage and cabbages created a more classical touch, and a hot and spicy section was studded with decorative corn and chilli peppers.

Hughes continued: 'In this exhibit the vegetables are just as attractive as the flowers and hopefully this will encourage people to use vegetables in their flower displays at home. From a consumer point of view apart from seeing produce in-store, this also gives a good example of what Sainsbury's has available.' All the produce displayed at the show is available at Sainsbury's who were also keen to emphasis their commitment to developing their flower range in line with demand. Hughes continued: 'People are demanding more exotic flowers now and not necessarily ones that are coming in from abroad. We're growing orchids in the UK and we're having to grow increasingly more because the demand is so great.' Having won the award seven years running Sainsbury's is well aware of the high standards to be met. 'The judges were looking for absolute perfection,' Hughes added. 'Straight stems, open flowers, produce has to be unblemished. And there is also the question of design and originality.' Another Sainsbury's winner this week was floral assistant Janice Wilson who won a day out at the Chelsea Show. Wilson was nominated for 'her dedication during key trading periods whatever the day, whatever the shift and her great customer skills'.

The winner of Sainsbury's name a rose competition launched earlier this year, was announced last week as a join venture with Englands. Natasha Belinda, selected and grown exclusively for Sainsbury's will be available this autumn.

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