05 February 2007

Put the fresh Flavours of the Thames Valley on the menu and meet the increasing demand for local food and drink. Nearly two-thirds of British shoppers are buying local food, and they want to eat local too at their favourite pubs and restaurants 

Chefs, publicans, restaurateurs, foodservice suppliers and retailers who want to offer their customers the best of the Thames Valley food and drink will be able to meet producers at the Flavours of the Thames Valley trade show on Wednesday 14 March at Chieveley Village Hall, near Newbury.

 “This trade show is a great opportunity to capitalise on people’s enthusiasm and desire for local food in their village shops and delicatessens, as well as their local pubs and restaurants,” says Tamara Schiopu, co-ordinator of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes, and Oxfordshire Food Groups, which is organising the event.

 “It’s hard for chefs and food buyers to justify the time to seek out and arrange meetings with smaller, specialist producers. If they come to the Flavours of the Thames Valley show they will meet many producers from Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire eager to do business with them.”

The trade show will attract producers from Wiltshire and Hampshire too, thanks to a Sustainable Development Fund grant from the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. “We welcome neighbouring farmers and growers, many of whom haven’t had the opportunity to meet Berkshire food buyers before,” says Tamara.

Flavours of the Thames Valley trade show starts at 10:30 am and entrance is free if you book in advance, or £5 on the door. There will be plenty of opportunities to sample the tasty offerings from more than 30 producers as well as enjoying a local food lunch, Flavours of the Thames Valley cookery demonstration by a local chef, and workshops. 

Flavours of the Thames Valley is sponsored by West Berkshire Council, Reading Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Borough Council, with support from the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Community Council for Berkshire and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).