Sussex food and drink lovers urged to vote for favourites

The Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2007/08, searching for the best local food and drink producers and the shops, pubs, restaurants and markets which sell great Sussex ingredients, have opened for public votes [8 June 2007].

The awards were launched at the South of England Show, Ardingly, with free tastings and competitions for the public. Leaders in local food, drink and agriculture enjoyed a bubbly reception, with wine provided by Plumpton College, canapés by Davenports and cooking entertainment by Farmers Weekly's food writer Philippa Vine and inventor of the Banoffi Pie, Ian Dowding.

The awards are based on public voting and everyone in Sussex is valid for one vote per category, so organisers are calling on food and drink lovers to vote for their favourites on www.sussexfoodawards.com or come and see them at the show.

"There's a food revolution going on – and Sussex farmers, retailers, hoteliers, chefs and more and more shoppers are playing a major role," said Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges for the Sussex Food and Drink Awards, who lives in Felpham, West Sussex.

"It's all part of an increasing desire to know the origins and traceability of the products that we buy.

As a result, we are shopping for locally produced products in ever increasing quantities and that's bringing a much-needed boost to the local economy as well as doing much to dispel the popular perception that Britain is a nation of junk food eaters."

This is the second year of the awards which attracted over 4,000 votes last year. The awards are organised by The Priory Partnership, a leading Sussex PR and events agency, with support from A Taste of Sussex, part of Sussex Enterprise, JUSTBIZ web solutions and media partners The Argus and BBC Southern Counties Radio.

The 2007/08 Sussex Food and Drink Awards include:

· Best Sussex Food Shop – sponsored by Strutt & Parker, leading Sussex property agents for land owners and farmers

· Best Sussex Eating Experience – sponsored by Business Link, helping link the producers with local restaurants, pubs and other outlets

· Sussex Butcher of the Year – sponsored by SEEDA, encouraging butchers to support their local farmers

· Sussex Farmer of the Year – sponsored by Lloyds TSB Agriculture, rewarding the biggest contribution to promoting local produce in the county

· Sussex Food Producer of the Year – sponsored by Budgens, which stocks a wide range of Sussex produce

· Sussex Drink Producer of the Year – sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter, leading law firm in Sussex

· Best Sussex Farmers Market – sponsored by the awards creators: A Taste of Sussex, part of Sussex Enterprise; JUSTBIZ web solutions; and The Priory Partnership, PR & events.

"We have created these awards to celebrate the wonderful producers in our county and promote the Sussex quality of food and drink," said Paula Seager, Awards Director and Managing Director of The Priory Partnership.

"Our goal is to reduce food miles and help people in Sussex to find and enjoy the best food and drink available on our doorstep. We also aim to help local farmers and producers, as well as the businesses that support them, to thrive."

Every person who votes will have a chance to win dinner for two in the brasserie and one night's accommodation in a deluxe room at the stunning Alexander House Hotel, a finalist in the 2006/07 awards.

See www.sussexfoodawards.com for more information or call Priory on Tel: 01273 207155 for a nomination form.