CityLife

Foof news - British Food Fortnight

THE Countryside Alliance may have hit the headlines in the past as the standard bearers for the pro-fox hunting fraternity, but now it is teaming up with the Guild of Fine Food Retailers and a number of government and other agencies to celebrate all that's best in British food this autumn. British Food Fortnight, which will be launched by ministers and celebrities in October, aims to nurture a renaissance in the pleasure of buying and eating home-produced food. In doing so organisers hope to strengthen local food networks, increase awareness that British food is of the highest quality and meets the most stringent safety standards.

Most important of all, the nationwide festival will seek to build national awareness that failure to buy British food, in particular small volume and specialist foods like regional cheeses and meats, will result in the large scale loss of farms and small rural businesses.

After the battering that the industry has taken through the salmonella, BSE and foot and mouth episodes, it certainly needs a boost. The North West Tourist Board is going to distribute British Food Fortnight fliers to all its members and leaflets to all 50 tourist information offices and is encouraging the UK's nine other regional boards to do the same.

During the fortnight there will be the launch of a national competition to find the top 10 long-forgotten British foods. How about nettle soup, quinces, eel pie? Or, closer to home, perhaps, cow heel, elder, tripe and brawn?