WEST Devon Borough Council has thrown its weight behind Tavistock?s EatWise, Eat Local campaign, with a £4,000 grant to help develop the market for locally produced food. The grant has been awarded as the town prepares for the finals of the Best Local Food Awards, a regional event to find the best local food community in the South West. The Tavistock area has long been recognised for its local produce and has already gained recognition for the Best Farmers? Market and the Best Market Town. The EatWise campaign aims to put Tavistock on the good food map by encouraging local people and businesses to eat and use as much local produce as possible to benefit the local economy and the environment. The EatWise team is working with local schools, businesses and regional producers to show the benefits of using local produce and encourage them to source food locally. John Dixon, of the EatWise campaign, said the grant will be used to raise the profile of the town as well as providing practical help for establishments who want to use more local produce. ?The council?s grant gives a real boost to our campaign, not just for the approaching finals of the competition, but for the long term too. We want to establish Tavistock as the local food community in the South West.? Cllr Nick Morgan, chairman of the council?s environment and community committee said: ?We certainly welcome an initiative such as EatWise which ultimately helps our local communities and brings money back into the local economy. ?The council wishes them the very best of luck for the competition.? Judges are expected to visit the Tavistock area early this month and the winner of the competition will be announced on March 30. Tavistock EatWise campaign is being supported by a wide range of organisations as well as West Devon Council. They include Tavistock Forward, Westden, Tavistock Food Festival, Tamar Valley AONB, Tavistock Town Council, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Tavistock Chamber of Commerce, Peter Gorton of the Horn of Plenty, Tavistock Farmers? Market Association and Tavistock Business Association.
