A campaign has been launched in Tavistock in a bid to win the title of Best Food Town in the South West . The Eatwise campaign is aimed at building on the town?s growing reputation as a mecca for lovers of good food and was launched at last weekend?s second Tavistock Food Festival. Central to the campaign is the message that if you eat local, healthy food, it will not only be good for you but it will also benefit the local economy and the environment. Tavistock Forward is leading the drive to make the town a local food capital and is distributing surveys to restaurants, schools, care homes and hospitals, retailers and members of the public to find out how much local food is currently consumed and gain support for the campaign. Chairman of Tavistock Forward John Taylor said the ?Best Local Food Awards?, sponsored by various organisations and businesses, including South West Tourism and Taste of the West, were being judged in November. ?The second annual food festival boasted 80 stalls and in excess of 7,500 visitors ? it was a wonderful event which has given us a great platform for promoting Tavistock as the food capital of the South West,? he said. ?We have a regular farmers? market which was voted ?Best in Devon 2005?, a thriving cattle market and numerous restaurants capitalising on the area?s many producers of lamb, beef, cheese, vegetables and fruit.? He added that specialist shops and stalls nestled amid greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers and delicatessens, contributing in 2004 to the award of ?Best Market Town in Britain.? ?The campaign seeks to ensure that the benefits of a healthy local diet are available to all,? said Mr Taylor. ?We will be working with shops, restaurants, schools and care homes to promote the Eatwise message.? Tavistock Eatwise has the backing of Tavistock Town Council and Chamber of Commerce, West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock Business Association and local sustainability charity WestDen.
