Popular food festival returns for a second year (From The Advertiser Series)
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Popular food festival returns for a second year
3:55pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News
By Ashley Barnard, Reporter (Richmond)
A POPULAR festival celebrating local produce and suppliers will return this summer after traders and customers praised the efforts of organisers.
The second Homegrown Food Festival will take place on the grounds of the Applegarth in Northallerton on Sunday, June 23.
An appeal has been made to local businesses to get involved and sponsor the event which champions local food and produce suppliers.
Organisers said they had been blown away with the level of support and positive feedback received after the first festival.
“Last year around 1,800 people attended the event and we had nearly 50 stall holders selling everything from rustic chopping boards to luxury muesli,” said Peter Cole, one of the organisers.
“This year we have plans for a beer tent and are in talks with a great local brewery. I am really keen for us to feature local beers and we plan to have a Meet the Brewer planned with Wall’s Brewing Company.”
The Homegrown Food Festival group is keen to work with local businesses and is seeking sponsorship and support for the festival to ensure it is bigger and better than last year, and continues to grow.
This year will see a repeat of cookery demonstrations from local chefs in the Food Theatre, and more “grow your own” activities for youngsters and adults in the Grow Zone.
Local chopping board maker Peter Wernyj (correct) said: “The food festival has given me the confidence to start a woodcraft business for real.
“The event was so vibrant and I loved the banter with members of the public and other stall holders.”
Charlotte Pett, who launched the Osmotherly Muesli Company last year, said it was a great start for her.
She said: “It was brilliant as a launch-pad for my business.
“I’m now supplying farm shops. The festival was the ideal place for me to gain those contacts, and it was a really friendly environment.
“I would definitely recommend it to other small food businesses starting out.”
Any food business wanting to get involved in this year’s festival can contact Emma Casson on 01609-258320, homegrownfoodfest@gmail.com, or www.homegrownfoodfest.co.uk.
