ORGANISERS of the North Northumberland Local Food Awards competition have announced the first round of winners in the newly-launched scheme to highlight all that's best and local in the area's hotels, shops and restaurants.
More than 80 bronze awards have been handed out, and recipients can signal their success with a distinctive sticker in their windows.
The North Northumberland Local Food Awards were launched in April and are aimed at encouraging the use and promoti
on of locally sourced produce.
The competition covers the Alnwick and Berwick areas. Entries range from self catering accommodation to delicatessens, in an area stretching from Cornhill in the north to Swarland in the south.
Bronze award winner Jessie Chapman, of 40 Ravensdowne Bed and Breakfast, in Berwick, commented: "We are delighted to have been presented with this award, which recognises our work to continually use local produce wherever possible."
Unlike most other award schemes this is not quality led. It is an awards scheme which is intended to highlight and reward businesses offering a substantial proportion of local produce to the public.
To receive a bronze award, establishments had to demonstrate that they used and promoted the use local produce, such as food and drink produced, caught and raised or processed within a radius of approximately 50 miles of the participating business.
They had to satisfy the judges that they used local suppliers and produce regularly, and that they promoted these on their marketing materials and menus.
Commenting on what this means for visitors and customers, Derek Sharman, project co-ordinator, said: "Visitors and locals are increasingly keen to sample authentic experiences - and this includes food.
"The quality and diversity of north Northumberland's superb independent food and drink producers and suppliers is second to none.
"The competition aims to encourage its availability and promotion in our areas through hospitality, catering and retail businesses.
"The North Northumberland Food Awards are there to identify the outlets which provide, promote and are passionate about using local produce in their menus.
"Customers seeing the award sticker for the first time can now be assured that they are in for a local experience, and that it's going to be delicious."
The second stage of the judging process is now taking place. This stage will identify outstanding businesses in each category who will receive silver and gold awards.
Independent judges are visiting these businesses and are specifically looking for imaginative and creative use of local produce on menus and promotional material.
The judges want to identify businesses which are providing an exceptional service to local produce. This will include offering a high proportion of locally sourced food and drink to their customers and innovation in both their menu creation and the way they use local produce to add value to their business.
The winners of the gold and silver awards in the Berwick area will be announced on September 12 at the town's food festival, while the Alnwick district winners will be unveiled at the Alnwick Food Festival on the September 18.
Mr Sharman said he was keen to see the local food awards as a means to attracting new businesses.
"We want to encourage local outlets who have not previously done so to get behind their producer neighbours and sell their products. It's what more and more customers want, and it also encourages good 'green' thinking by reducing food miles, which encourages visitors who stop in Britain to do exactly that."
Businesses who would like further information or to participate in this awards scheme can contact Derek Sharman via email: timetoexplore@btinternet.com 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.
