Awards will fly flag for local food

Mar 12 2008 by Jane Hall, The Journal

A MAJOR competition has been launched to reward businesses between Berwick and Rothbury which champion local food.

But unlike similar initiatives that seek to celebrate quality, the North Northumberland Local Food Awards will instead honour those hospitality, catering and retail businesses that promote the use of produce caught, raised, processed or made within 50 miles of their doorstep.

The brainchild of Berwick tour guide Derek Sharman and Kathryn Potts of Alnwick firm Taste-T, which advances Fairtrade, local and organic food, drink, and arts and crafts, it is hoped the awards will encourage the wider availability and better promotion of produce from north Northumberland for local people and visitors.

Mr Sharman said: “Eating local food and drink is an important element of the mix that makes an area a distinctive place to live in or to visit. But while many cafes, restaurants, hotels and bed and breakfasts use local produce, many don’t bother telling people.

“I can think of one hotel in Berwick that serves excellent food, but the only local ingredient they bother to flag up on their menu is Northumbrian beef.

“I know they use more local ingredients than that, but they aren’t telling people.

“As a tour guide of 21 years’ standing, I know how important it now is for businesses to flag up they’re using local produce. Increasingly people are asking me if there is somewhere good to eat or stay that uses local food.”

The endeavour mirrors the aims of The Journal Taste North East England Campaign to encourage people from all walks of life to buy local, use local and eat local. Mr Sharman said: “We support the campaign.

“As well as strengthening local identity, using and promoting local produce helps support the rural economy, reduces food miles and reconnects customers with the countryside and the producers of their food.” The North Northumberland Local Food Awards are open to anyone serving or selling food and drink in the Alnwick District Council area or the borough of Berwick.

There are six categories and outstanding businesses in each will be selected by two panels of independent judges based in the north and south of the awards’ area, including Elizabeth Houghton, of Berwick Slow Food.

Each business that satisfies the criteria will be awarded bronze status and be able to display the awards logo on its premises and on menus and promotional material.

Outstanding businesses will be presented with either gold or silver awards at the Alnwick and Berwick food fairs in September.

Mr Sharman said: “Even if a business uses only a limited range of local food or drink, such as bed and breakfasts offering locally made sausages and free range eggs for breakfast, the clear identification of sources on the menu will help meet the awards criteria.

“I must stress that we are looking for local rather than regional or county foods, however.

“The problem when you are right on the border as we are here in north Northumberland, especially when it is a national border, is that our local doesn’t necessarily mean Northumberland.

“A great example is fish. Most fish and chip shops either buy in frozen from Iceland or get their fish from North Shields, but here in Berwick we have a fish and chip shop that proudly proclaims it’s selling Eyemouth haddock, which is about nine miles away. If this was just a Northumberland scheme, we wouldn’t be interested in Eyemouth as it’s in Scotland, but these awards will be able to recognise that.”

The closing date for entries is March 31 and about 500 leaflets advertising the awards have already been distributed.

“We have been very encouraged by the response so far, with about 20 entries for all six categories, from bed and breakfasts that only have two rooms to country house hotels,” Mr Sharman said.

“But we want as many businesses as possible to enter these inaugural awards.

“The category we have so far seen the least number of entries for is self-catering, but there is much that owners of such properties can do to promote local food, from welcome hampers to alerting visitors to the local produce available.”

Businesses wishing to take part in the North Northumberland Local Food Awards can obtain an application form by calling Derek Sharman on (01289) 330218 or emailing timetoexplore@btinternet.com