Take the local pledge

Feb 1 2008 by Jane Hall, The Journal

TAKE The Journal buy local, use local, eat local pledge – and improve your health and that of the North-East economy.

Today sees the launch of the region’s biggest and best food and drink website, at the heart of which is The Journal Taste North-East England Campaign charter.

The Journal is calling on consumers, producers and businesses across the North-East to sign and show your support for the production, retail and enjoyment of the wealth of fine regional food and drink on offer between the Scottish Border and North Yorkshire.

The pledge is a simple statement that signals to others you intend to support local food and drink by buying, using and eating more of the goods produced, grown and raised on our doorstep.

The charter can be found at www.journaltastene.co.uk, or you can post in the form on this page to register your backing for The Journal’s campaign launched yesterday to get you thinking about what you eat – and where it comes from.

The aim is to encourage more shops to stock produce from our region, more restaurants and hotels to use and champion local food and drink and more people to buy North-East goods.

Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “The North-East enjoys a rich food heritage and the quality of our regional produce compares with the best in the world. Local and regional foods include the added ingredient of the producer’s own individuality and commitment and help to safeguard our food heritage.

“For retailers, restaurants and hotels, they provide an opportunity for clear differentiation and a source of high quality produce.

“Traditionally we have focused on trying to show the value of our produce to people in other countries. Now it’s time for consumer interest to come from within our own region. The North-East has first class food fare.

“Our culinary heritage is such that we should take pride in what’s right on our doorstep.

“Everyone can do that by signing up to The Journal charter and making a visible pledge to buy more local produce.”

The Taste website – which can also be accessed via www.journallive.co.uk/taste – features all the print regulars such as Helen Savage’s wine column, Bill Oldfield’s recipe of the week, dining reviews and Alastair Gilmour’s beer page alongside even more food and drink news, views and exclusive online material, including video recipes and quick kitchen tips.

You can also have your say in the Taste forum, where we hope to hear your views on The Taste North-East England Campaign and the local food issues that affect you.”

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Aims of the campaign

To encourage more shops – including supermarkets – to stock more North-East food and drink

To encourage more hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafes to serve more locally-produced food

To encourage more people to appreciate the value of buying more locally-produced food and drink

To support farm shops and farmers’ markets

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Backing the campaign

Sandy Duncan, general manager of Northumbria Larder, lead partner in the North-East England Food & Drink Group

“Here in North-East England we have some wonderful and varied food and drink products, including seafood, meat, vegetables, cereal, bread, beer and, of course, fresh water. This is no accident, as we have a long coastline, giving access to the sea’s riches, a huge rural hinterland and a long tradition of food and drink production and preparation based on these natural advantages.

“But that same tradition can also work to our disadvantage in that we are so accustomed to having great produce that we tend to take it for granted.

“One of our jobs at the North-East England Food & Drink Group is to bang the drum for these producers both inside and outside the region, and The Journal is a great ally in doing that. We are delighted to be associated with its campaign to encourage everyone – suppliers, retailers, restaurants and the general public – to support the North-East’s great wealth of food and drink.”

Tony Binks, top North-East chef who runs the acclaimed Barrasford Arms near Hexham, Northumberland

“I support The Journal campaign because I support local. Where I can, I get everything from my doorstep. Ninety per cent of my customers are connected in some way to agriculture or are auctioneers or livestock hauliers, which is why it is important to support local.”

Caroline Dickinson, Brocksbushes Farm Shop, Corbridge, Northumberland

“What a good idea! I am delighted to support The Journal Taste North-East England Campaign. At Brocksbushes we try to provide as much local food as possible. All the food we serve in our tea rooms is home-made, and all the cakes and pies etc we sell in the shop are either home-made or produced locally. We are always interested in listing as many local products as possible.

“Last summer we began our country markets on the third Friday of every month.

“This was an idea to provide a venue for local producers to sell their products direct to the customer.

“Our customers loved it, they felt it was a chance to buy real food from real people and they were able to talk to the people behind the products.”