TV chef Phil Vickery is urging people in Oxfordshire to buy local eat well and love their local food heroes in the newly launched Food Guide 2006.

The guide features 126 people growing, rearing, processing and selling local food in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and neighbouring areas.

Phil Vickery says in the foreword: “My mission is to urge all chefs, cooks, tea shop owners and caterers to look for locally produced food that has a real flavour and taste. The French, Spanish, Italians and Portuguese love their local food heroes, it’s about time we did the same.”

Oxfordshire County Council is one of the local authorities to help fund and back the Food Guide. It is now available from Farmers’ Markets, shops, pubs, restaurants, public libraries, council offices. They are also available from the Berks, Bucks, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire Food Groups that co-ordinate the Food Guide.

The guide was launched at the Oxford Farmers Market, Gloucester Green, on Thursday March 2 at 11.15am. The Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council, Cllr Mrs Catherine Fulljames, was present.

Cllr Roger Belson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Buying local food that has not travelled for miles tastes better and is more environmentally friendly.

“The phrase ‘food miles’ refers to the distance and the amount of fuel that has had to be used to get foodstuffs into our supermarkets. There are few ‘food miles’ for local food. I urge everyone in Oxfordshire to have a close look at the delicious local food that is on sale on their own doorsteps.”