THE NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND
LOCAL FOOD AWARDS
Hospitality, catering and retail businesses serving or selling food in the Alnwick
and Berwick districts are being invited to take part in a new initiative to encourage
the wider availability and better promotion of locally sourced produce for both local
people and visitors to the area.
The North Northumberland Local Food Awards will identify the area's eating places,
visitor accommodation and food retail outlets that offer food and drink that is produced,
caught, raised or processed within a radius of approximately 50 miles of the business.
The project co-ordinator, Derek Sharman said:
“Tasting local food and drink is an important element of the mix that makes an area
a distinctive place to live in or to visit. For many visitors, the offer of local
produce can often influence their choice of where to eat or stay.
As well as strengthening local identity, using and promoting local produce helps
support the rural economy, reduces “food miles” and re-connects consumers with the
countryside and with the producers of their food.”
There are six categories in the North Northumberland Local Food Awards scheme covering
businesses of all sizes from hotels and restaurants to B&Bs and self-catering cottages,
from pubs and cafes to farm shops and family butchers.
This is not a quality awards scheme but is intended to identify and reward businesses
offering a substantial proportion of local produce to the public.
“Bronze” awards will be given to all the businesses that demonstrate they offer a
substantial proportion of locally-sourced produce and promote it on their menus,
advertising or at the point of sale. These businesses will be able to display the
North Northumberland Local Food Awards logo on their premises and on menus and promotional
material.
Outstanding businesses in each category will be selected by panels of independent
judges. There will be one panel for businesses located in Alnwick District and another
for the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The winners chosen from the short-lists will
be presented with “Gold” and “Silver” awards in September, at the Alnwick and Berwick
Food Fairs organised by Alnwick Lions and the Berwick Slow Food Group.
The North Northumberland Local Food Awards is part of the Taste-T project which is
financially supported by LEADER + and One NorthEast via the Northumberland Strategic
Partnership. Taste-T is a project of Community Action Northumberland aimed at promoting
local, fair-trade and organic food, drink, arts & crafts in North Northumberland.
For more information contact:-
Derek Sharman, North Northumberland Local Food Awards Co-ordinator
50 Dean Drive, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2DQ
