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Eat The View News Update (20/06/06)
Welcome to the latest Eat the View news update! Eat the View is a Countryside Agency initiative about developing the links between consumers purchasing decisions and the conservation of distinctive landscapes. For more information visit: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/ETV/index.asp
NEWS
School meal reforms 'great opportunity for farmers'
Reforms to school meals, recently announced by government, are likely to see children in England eating more farm produce, and have been welcomed by the farming and catering industries. From September, standards will ensure that minimum quantities of fresh fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, and red meat are available each week to primary school pupils. The Department of Education and Skills stated "The benefits of locally procured food on reducing food miles and helping to educate children about where their food comes from are recognised by the department and DfES procurement guidance will help schools to ensure local producers are given fair access to the bidding process when looking for suppliers". New research from the Soil Association, released to coincide with the announcement, showed 30 % of LEAs are now sourcing some organic produce for schools meals and 63 % are sourcing some local food. See www.dfes.gov.uk and www.soilassociation.org
Sustainable Food for London: the Mayor's Food Strategy
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and Jenny Jones, Chair of London Food, recently launched London’s first ever strategy designed to improve London’s food and reduce the environmental impact of the food industry. ‘Healthy and Sustainable Food for London’ provides an overview of London’s food infrastructure involving growers, producers, transporters, wholesalers, retailers and consumers and contains a range of actions, including developing links and opportunities for farmers and producers in the region. The London Development Agency, the Mayor’s agency for jobs and business, is providing a budget of £3.87m over the next three years to support the work of the strategy. See http://www.londonfoodstrategy.org.uk/
Putting the Ooo Back into Food – A guide to including cookery within the national curriculum
Ahead of British Food Fortnight (see below), this new publication aims to help children learn about the diverse and delicious range of food available, the benefits of healthy eating and about the pleasures of eating quality, fresh, seasonal and regionally distinct produce. It includes advice on cookery within the national curriculum and contacts of organisations that are offering to help teach children how to cook. To order, email info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
The Cotswold Chef: a year in recipes and landscapes
A new book that aims to encourage people to share in the food and landscape of the Cotswolds. It includes new pictures of the landscape by Nick Darien-Jones and recipes through the seasons by award winning chef, Rob Rees. It also has a useful guide to buying produce and getting the most from farm shops and farmers' markets. See http://www.thecotswoldchef.com/cotswold_chef_products.html
MSC extends certification
The Marine Stewardship Council has introduced lower licensing fees to encourage smaller businesses to sell assured seafood. The body has recently certified a fishmonger and two restaurants in Hastings and Rye. The three firms can now display the MSC's blue logo on Dover sole, mackeral, and herring landed at Hastings and caught from sustainable fisheries in the English Channel. Source: The Grocer.
Ethics to drive mergers and acquisitions
Ethical sourcing will drive mergers and acquisitions in the food sector this year, according to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers report. Food companies are becoming more aware of an increasing consumer demand for ethically sourced, organic, and fairtrade products and are looking for suitable merger and acquisition opportunities. Source: The Grocer
Organic Works
New report from the Soil Association which details findings of a study of employment on organic farms. It demonstrates that organic farming is helping to reverse the decline in the agricultural workforce and that organic farmers tend to be younger than their conventional counterparts. See http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf?Open
Common Ground rules for local distinctiveness
Common Ground's 1992 ABC poster has been revised and recently published in a new A2 landscape format. Colour copies available: See http://www.england-in-particular.info for details.
Fish regs come into force
Updated UK fish labelling regulations that require labelling with the commercial designation of the species, the production method, and the catch area or country of origin are now in force. Source: The Grocer.
Naturally Active
A new website launched by Agricultural Development in the Eastern Region and Forestry Commission England aimed at woodland owners and managers who are seeking new ways to make money from their land and woods. See http://www.naturallyactive.org
Local Balti
Regional food group, Heart of England Fine Foods, is working with the Asian Balit Restaurant Association to get more West Midland's produce into the region's restaurants. See http://www.heff.co.uk/new_list.aspx?intContentID=20&intLIID=116
EVENTS
2 - 9 July, Church Stretton Food Fayre
See http://www.foodfayre.org/
7 - 9 July, Bridport Food Festival
See http://www.bridportfoodfestival.org.uk/
6 - 16 July, Portsmouth Waterfront Food Festival
29 - 30 July, Tavistock Food and Drink Festival
See http://www.tavistockfoodfestival.co.uk/
2 - 17 September, Organic Food Fortnight
The fortnight kicks off with the presentation of the Organic Food Awards 2006 on 1 September. This is followed by Organic Food Festival at Bristol's Harbourside from 2-3 September. With over 300 companies represented, the Festival showcases the best in organic products from across the UK and beyond. The rest of the fortnight will involve hundreds of events across the country, from free tasting to organic farmers' markets. See http://www.soilassociation.org/organicfortnight
23 September - 8 October, British Food Fortnight
The theme of this year’s event is ‘Are you Cooking it?’. Schools are being invited to teach children how to prepare simple meals using the best of Britain’s in-season produce. Shop shelves will be bursting with British produce, tempting the public to use seasonal ingredients when cooking at home. Restaurants, pubs, tourism attractions, hospitals and staff canteens will be putting traditional dishes – with a modern twist – on their menus. For information on British Food Fortnight call 020 7840 9292 or email: info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk or see www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
30 September - 1 October, Great British Cheese Festival
The British Cheese Awards and Great British Cheese Festival are to return again to Cheltenham. This year's event will be held in Montpelier Gardens, just 6 minutes walk to the centre of town. With so much space, all the events will take place on a huge lawn including Britain’s biggest cheese market, the Cheltenham Arms, Waitrose School for Big Cheeses, and the Food from Britain Market. See http://www.thecheeseweb.com/ for details.
To register for Eat the View news updates or to amend your details visit: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/ETV/register.asp
Inclusion in this news update does not imply approval or endorsement of the items or events by The Countryside Agency. All information in this email has been checked and believed to be correct, but cannot be so guaranteed. The Agency does not necessarily support or endorse the views, ideas, products or services on any site to which it provides a link.
