Previous winners include a village shop staffed by the local community, a dairy farmer whose early alarm clock had been ringing for forty years and a café which serves food which would otherwise go to waste – and now, with the search on for this year’s ‘Local Food Hero’, it’s your chance to help decide who takes home the prestigious title, writes Anna Murby.
The ‘Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year’ is just one of the categories in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards which were set up nine years ago to celebrate all that is great about local food and drink, to recognise excellence within the county’s dining venues and to give a public pat on the back to all those who work so hard within the culinary sector.
It is sponsored by the Burton Latimer-based breakfast cereal company and supported by Northamptonshire CPRE and invites nominations from the public for those individuals or businesses which go further than most in promoting local food or keeping down food miles.
Indeed the category is the only one of those in the competition operated by public nomination and, as such, Northamptonshire CPRE’s Education and Development Manager Sally Hanrahan, says it holds a special place in the Awards; “What make this award so important is that there are some wonderful people and businesses right across the county doing what they can to maintain the value of local food in our rural communities, but often they’re too modest to put themselves forward for such an accolade” explained Sally.
“So for members of the public to ensure that those great stories are heard and celebrated is really important and I’d like to urge everyone to submit a simple nomination and help ensure that our local food heroes get the recognition that they deserve!” she enthused.
To nominate a business or an individual whom you believe deserves a public pat on the back for their efforts, whether it’s your local butcher, a community food project or perhaps your favourite farm shop or delicatessen, please download a nomination form from the Awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrinkawards.co.uk – or simply call the Awards team on 01933 664437. The closing date for nominations is 24th July.
All nominations go forward to a judging session later in the year and the winner is announced at the prestigious Awards Dinner in November.
For more information, including details of the other categories in the competition, please call 01933 664437 or email rachel@themallowscompany.com while you can also follow the Awards on twitter at @foodawardsHQ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foodawards
