New strategic board puts food and drink at the top of the menu

Some of the biggest names in the region’s food and drink sector have come together to form the new strategic board of the North East England Food and Drink Group, and they have ambitious aims designed to strengthen the industry, create jobs and attract more tourists to the North East.

The new board will be led by Sir Donald Curry, leading Government adviser on farming and food and member of the Council of Food Policy Advisors, who will be joined by an array of the region’s leading food and drink figures...

Marion Schooler goes to the top of the class in food and drink

The North East England Food and Drink Group has appointed Marion Schooler as project manager, further to the recent establishment of its new strategic board.

Marion will work with the board and key partners in the sector to help fulfil its potential to become a driving force in the region’s economy and a market leader in British food and drink...

ENJOY BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT IN NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Running from 18th September to 3rd October and now in its ninth year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces. Many shops, pubs and restaurants in North East England will be taking part this year with special menus and promotions as will National Trust properties, tourism attractions, hotels, youth hostels and many more. Very excitingly, in 2012 the dates of British Food Fortnight will change, for one year only, to run at the same time as the London Olympics.

For information on what is happening during the event click here
For 14 things you can do during British Food Fortnight click here
For ideas on taking part in the Olympics click here
For advice on what is in season during British Food Fortnight click here
To sign up for monthly updates on the latest British food news click here

National Open Course Dates with The Environmental Academy

Click here for a list of Open Course dates running throughout the UK, until June 2010. 
There are discounts available for a selection of these courses, and these are marked below.

You can also follow the link below to our full course calendar and further details of each course: http://www.environmental-academy.co.uk/Course-Diary.aspx

February 2010 - Great Taste Awards - Enter Now

Last September, 5.5 million listeners heard CHRIS EVANS talk to GREAT TASTE AWARDS GOLD-STAR WINNING PRODUCERS on his BBC RADIO 2 DRIVETIME SHOW. Over 30 million consumers read about gold-star winning food and drink in newspapers and magazines and tens of thousands got to taste them at food exhibitions throughout the country. Many also met producers at GREAT TASTE LIVE theatres at REAL FOOD FESTIVAL and BBC MASTERCHEF LIVE and thousands bought from shops, food halls, markets, exhibitions and the TASTE GOLD MARKET in Cardinal Place, London last November.

Coveted black & gold-star GREAT TASTE stickers adorn thousands of speciality foods stocked on shelves and counters in stores throughout the UK and more recently, even as part of a television commercial.

Of all the UK’s food award schemes, the GREAT TASTE AWARDS is the most important. Completely independent and uncompromisingly rigorous, it is trusted by retailers, buyers and consumers. GREAT TASTE is to speciality food and drink what MICHELIN is to fine dining.

Closing Date: 9th April 2010

Entry Form http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/downloads/gta2010_entryform.pdf
The NEW 2010 Classes, Terms & Conditions http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/downloads/gta2010_classes_t_cs.pdf

Make a Food Co-op Your New Year’s Resolution

If you want to eat more healthily in the New Year or do your bit to help the environment by eating more local food then help is at hand. Sustain, the Alliance for Better Food and Farming, has a team of regional advisers to help local communities and farmers set up food co-ops.

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NORTHUMBERLAND

Certified Farmers’ Markets
Alnwick, Last Friday, Market Place 9.00 am – 2.00 pm
Hexham, Second & Fourth Saturday, Market Place 9.00 am – 1.30 pm
Morpeth, First Saturday, Market Place 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Ponteland, Fourth Saturday, Memorial Hall, Darras Road 9.30 am – Noon

Non Certified Markets
Berwick, Last Sunday, The Maltings
Brocksbushes Ltd, Third Friday, Brocksbushes Farm Shop from 18 Apr – 15 Aug 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Hadrian’s Wall, Second Sunday, Greenhead 10.00 am – 2.00 pm

TYNE AND WEAR

Certified Farmers’ Market
Newcastle, First Friday, Grey’s Monument, City Centre 9.30 am – 2.30 pm

Non Certified Markets

Tynemouth, Third Saturday, Metro Station

COUNTY DURHAM

Certified Farmers’ Markets
Barnard Castle, First Saturday, Market Square 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Darlington, Third Friday, Market Place 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Stanhope, Fourth Saturday, Durham Dales Centre 10.00 am – 3.00 pm (February-December)

Non Certified Markets
Chester le Street, Second Friday, Market Place 9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Durham, Third Thursday, Market Place
Gibside, National Trust Property 10.00 am – 2.00 pm, 20 September, 18 October, 15 November, 20 December
Middleton in Teesdale, Last Sunday, Village Centre (April - October) 11.00 am – 4.00 pm
Sedgefield, Second Sunday, outside Hope Inn

TEES VALLEY

Certified Farmers’ Markets
Hartlepool, Second Saturday, Museum Quay 9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Middlesbrough, Last Sunday, Natures World, Acklam
Pinchinthorpe, First Sunday, Pinchinthorpe Hall (Feb – Dec)

Non Certified Market
Guisborough, Second Saturday, Westgate
Stockton, High Street, Last Thursday 10.00 am – 4 pm

www.northumbria-larder.co.uk / www.northumberlandfarmersmarkets.org.uk /
 www.farmersmarkets.net/