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WHAT
IS BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT? Running
from 20thSeptember to 5th October and now in its seventh year,
British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the
diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces.
WHAT'S
NEW THIS YEAR? To mark the launch of
the seventh British Food Fortnight, the organisers have produced a
short film explaining why it is best to buy British food. Seen
through the eyes of children, the film can be viewed from the home
page of the event's website www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk.
Restaurants,
pubs, tourism attractions, hospitals and staff canteens will again
be putting the best of British on their menus. Eight of the largest
food service organisations, led by ARAMARK, five major pub groups,
all the chef associations and two of the main tourism organisations
are all taking part so expect to see an abundance of British food on
menus this Autumn.
For
the first time the event is focusing in particular on public
procurement: the NHS, Ministry of Defence, prison service and all
Government departments are being challenged to join the national
celebration and put British on their menus during the Fortnight.
The
well-established promotions in shops, led by Budgens, are being
increased with even more tastings, meet-the-producer events and
special offers. All the supermarkets are being invited to expand the
British promotions they ran durin g the event last year and
independent stores will be championing local produce on the high street.
Schools
are again being invited to bring chefs into the classroom to teach
children how to cook and to enter British Food Fortnight's 'Cook for
Life' Challenge, sponsored by Kenwood, for the opportunity to win
class sets of cooking equipment.
The
event's network of 9,000 chefs is at the ready to help schools teach
children about the delights of our national produce and how to cook.
This year they are being joined by retailers who are invited to
donate food to schools for cooking lessons and to host school visits
in order to teach children how to shop beyond the sweetie shelves.
British Food Fortnight continues, therefore, to be the largest
volunteer movement educating children about food.
The
event's activities are being given an extra boost by the Department
of Health, which has teamed up with British Food Fortnight to promote
it's 5 A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) message to schools and parents.
WHO
IS BEHIND IT? British Food Fortnight
is sponsored by Budgens, ARAMARK and the Department of Health's FIVE
A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) programme and features the
British Food Fortnight 'Cook for Life' Challenge sponsored by
Kenwood. It is supported by over 40 organisations led by Brakes,
Compass Group, Country Markets, Mitchells & Butlers, National
Farmers' Union, National Trust, Sodexo and Tenant Farmers Association.
WHY
IS THE EVENT SO POPULAR? Commenting
on the continuing expansion of the event's activity, organiser Alexia
Robinson says: "Last year the nation's affection for its
national food promotion was summed up by a leading magazine that
exclaimed 'Long Live British Food Fortnight!'. The event's fan
base multiplies every year with more shops, pubs and restaurants
running promotions and more schools using the celebrations as an
opportunity to tea ch children about the delights of Britain's produce."
"This
year, the Public Procurement sector is flirting with participation
and it will be fascinating to see how many hospitals, prisons,
schools and Government departments grasp the mantel and put British
food on the menu during British Food Fortnight."
·WHAT
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE TAKE PART?
All
the resources people need to take part are on the event's website www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk:
For
the public: watch the film about why
it is best to buy British food and find details of activities around
the country, recipes and advice on eating British.
For
schools: read the examples of how
schools participated last year, download the school's 'Putting
the Ooo back into food' resource
packs and obtain details of how to take part in the British
Food Fortnight 'Cook for Life' Challenge,
sponsored by Kenwood.
For
chefs and retailers: see advice and
ideas on working with schools to teach children about food and how to cook.
For
shops, pubs and restaurants: download
your 'How to Take Part'
pack.
WHERE
CAN WE FIND OUT MORE?
For
information on British Food Fortnight and to order resources,
contact Alexia Robinson or Jennifer Meakin. T: 020 7840 9292. E: info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk
W:
www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk.
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