News Release:
Date: 15th November 2015
A Very British Revolution: Introducing the UK’s Harvest Heroes 2015!
A collaboration between local farmers, producers, artists, restauranteurs,
allotmenteers and the local community in Peterborough are the winners of the Love
British Food 2015 Harvest Heroes competition, run in conjunction with The
Telegraph. The small coastal town of Emsworth, last year’s winner, came a very
close second with another awe-inspiring effort that reached even further into the
local community and beyond.
The competition, now in its third year, acknowledges the people who organise the
most imaginative and inclusive celebrations of local food and the harvest. Entries
were received from across the country and included outdoor Harvest services, apple
days, community lunches, food festivals, activities in care homes and school
enterprises. Other finalists that caught the judges eye included a collaboration
between 36 schools and Whole Foods Market, a Hampshire village food celebration,
a ‘town meal’ held in Middlesborough and Weston Super Food Festival in Somerset.
Alexia Robinson, Founder of Love British Food commented on the success of the
competition: "Three years ago we set out to inspire people to connect with the food
in their local area. Now, in 2015 the competition has surpassed all expectations - we
were thrilled with the response this year. Every entry is imaginative and inspiring
and, most importantly, wide reaching with an educational message. Harvest Heroes
is having a very real impact in communities. Long may it continue!”
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges led by The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Raymond Blanc and
his son Olivier. Together they were looking for events that strengthened the local
community, educated people about British food and eating locally, and supported the
economy.
Raymond Blanc said: “Once again, having to judge these awards has been a difficult
task. The entries have been so strong – each one has had such a positive effect on
those involved. What we are witnessing here is a revolution – not a French
News Release:
Date: 15th November 2015
Revolution, but a very British one! We are reconnecting with food as part of our
culture and our everyday life.”
The Peterborough group’s outstanding winning effort celebrated food, the land and
the unique role agriculture has played in the development of the town. A series of
events filled the city centre with sights, sounds, tastes, smells, songs and dances of
the countryside. They included a farmer’s market, Harvest wain procession, barn
dance, Harvest supper, bread making workshops, and traditional craft
demonstrations. Historically, Peterborough’s city centre food and craft market was
reinstated after 50 years!
On Saturday evening, a spectacular parade of Harvest costumed-characters from
dancing cart horses to pagan goddesses wove its way through the streets. It handed
over to the Harvest stage in Cathedral Square for a night of foot stomping folk
rhythms from around the world.
Sunday saw a huge outdoor dinner created by artists Lucy and Jorge Orta with
discussions on local food production, consumption and distribution. 500 people were
seated to enjoy 'conversation starters' baked into loaves of bread. The meal was
cooked by head chef at Clarkes Peterborough who specialises in locally sourced
produce and was supported by a team of volunteers from local colleges and learners
at HMP Peterborough prison.
Mark Richards, Director of arts organisation Metal and organiser of Harvest
Peterborough, said “We are utterly delighted to have won the 2015 Harvest Heroes
competition. The inspiration for the weekend was all around us. Agriculture and food
production has played such a unique role in the history and development of the city.
Peterborough is surrounded by the Fens which grows over a third of all the
vegetables produced in England, enough wheat annually to produce 250 million
loaves of bread and accounts for about half of all Grade 1 agricultural land in
England. Also, many of the culturally diverse communities migrated to the city to
work seasonally on the land. Yet it was apparent that, for many people, the
relationship to the seasons and understanding of where food comes from is being
lost. So, we decided to create a cultural festival that would bring communities
together to celebrate their shared cultural heritage and also discuss real issues
News Release:
Date: 15th November 2015
about localism, seasonality, food production and distribution. It was great to see that
the different aspects of the festival attracted people from all walks of life.”
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss will be presenting the winners with a special
handcrafted award on Wednesday, and commented: “From artisan producers to
projects linking to our agricultural heritage and the Great British Menu, these awards
capture the exciting innovation currently transforming our £100billion food and
farming industry in the UK.
“Harvest Heroes celebrates all that is great about our fantastic food and drink - it
comes as our farmers are enjoying their biggest grain harvest for 20 years and just
two weeks after I brought together the nation’s greatest food pioneers to help lead
the Year of British Food in 2016. This year’s entries were extremely impressive and
I’d like to congratulate everyone who entered – each one of them is playing their part
in making us a great food nation.”
The newly crowned Heroes will also be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the
Michelin Starred Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons gardens, where a member of
the expert team will reveal more about Raymond Blanc's new National Heritage
Garden over a delicious breakfast.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For further press information and images please contact Love British Food on
T: 0203 239 7032 E: info@lovebritishfood.co.uk W: www.lovebritishfood.co.uk
Twitter: @LoveBritishFood, #LoveBritishFood #BuyBritishFood
Facebook: Love-British-Food
Link: Harvest Heroes Flickr Photostream
Link: Video of the winning entry
British Food Fortnight is the annual celebration of the diverse and delicious food that
Britain produces. It was founded in 2002 response to the foot and mouth crisis in order to
encourage the public to support British farmers and food producers. Hundreds of shops,
pubs, and restaurants take part every year with special menus and promotions. The event is
also an established date on the school calendar, with many schools using it as an
opportunity to teach children about food. It is organised by Love British Food, a small
independent organisation that educates consumers, retailers and caterers about the benefits
of buying British.
News Release:
Date: 15th November 2015
British Food Fortnight is organised by Love British Food and is sponsored by a large family
of organisations led by the National Farmers Union, British Corner Shop, Centreplate,
Harrison Catering Serviced Ltd, Hallmark Care Homes, Cucina Restaurants and Whiting and
Hammond.
Bring Home the Harvest sits alongside British Food Fortnight and aims to reinvigorate the
tradition of celebrating the harvest. It is supported by a committee of organisations and
individuals including the National Trust, Women’s Institute, National Association of British
Market Authorities, the Church of England, National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs,
Country Markets, The University Caterers Association and the Women’s Food and Farming
Union.