British Food Fortnight is a national celebration of British food and drink.  This flagship event which celebrates all that is great about our home-grown produce is held annually at the same time as harvest festivals are celebrated across the land.  British Food Fortnight is THE opportunity for anyone who works within the food and drink industry to come together and promote the benefits of buying and eating the food and drink this country produces.   A national competition is run annually in association with Co-op, to look for the best community celebration of British food taking place that year during British Food Fortnight.

I've been a member of Love British Food since 2013 and since then have been actively promoting the British Food Fortnight campaign.  Back in 2015 I was asked to become Community Volunteer (East Midlands) to play a regional role in promoting the campaign.

To encourage more East Midlands businesses, organisations and groups to engage with the celebrations and be tempted to enter the national competition, I approached the organisers at Love British Food at the beginning of this year to ask if I could organise and sponsor East Midlands regional competitions.  There is a chance to win one of the 3 prize certificates up for grabs – Winner; Runner Up and Highly Commended - the same 3 award certificates will be available to compete for in all the East Midland counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Rutland and of course my home county of Lincolnshire.                     

I felt that the winners of the national competition always seemed to come from the south and that we didn’t have a winner from the East Midlands and that’s why I thought organising local awards would help motivate everyone up here to celebrate British Food Fortnight and hopefully encourage them to also enter the national competition.

British Food Fortnight 2019 takes place between 21^st September and 6^th October.

Leisa Pickles from Find Me the Leads Ltd and Lauren Clark, County Development Officer at Nottingham Young Farmers Clubs (both from Nottinghamshire) also became East Midlands Community Supporters for Love British Food this Spring and along with me will judge local entries and award the finalists with their certificates shortly after British Food Fortnight ends, with a photo opportunity and press coverage for the winners. 

We want to encourage smaller groups, individuals or those who don’t have big budgets for such events (but who have lots of passion, drive and community spirit) to enter these Regional Awards by creating a community event promoting and celebrating their local and British food.

How to enter the British Food Fortnight Lincolnshire Regional Awards:

Get involved for 2019 - How to enter:

• Hold a celebratory event during or around British Food Fortnight (which could also include a best decorated shop window display and food tastings) between 21^st September and 6^th October 2019.
• Take plenty of photos and post them on your social media sites don’t forget to include @lovebritishfood @Ownsworths #BritishFoodFortnight #BritishFoodisGreat in every tweet or facebook post
• Email details of your event to info@lovebritishfood.co.uk before midday on 18^th October 2019.
• Want ideas of what your group can do? Visit www.lovebritishfood.co.uk click on the heading British Food Fortnight and scroll down to Taking Part.  Here you will find sections for Caterers/Food Service, Consumers, Councils, Producers, Pubs/Restaurants/Hotels, Public Procurement, Retailers, Schools, Universities, Churches/Faith Leaders and all the inspiration you could need!