A FOOD growing enterprise has been shortlisted to compete against two other projects for a national award by Local Food.

The Growing the Valley project, run by Tamar Grow Local CIC in the Tamar Valley, will compete for the chance to be named winners of the enterprise category in the Local Food Recognition Awards.

Local Food is a £59.8-million scheme that distributes grants from the Big Lottery Fund to projects helping to make locally grown food accessible and affordable to communities. The project will be judged by an external panel in September, and the winners will be unveiled in November at an event in Manchester.

In 2012, the project received £101,649 in funding from Local Food to increase local food production and composting through the development of a series of linked sustainable community food growing projects, working closely with partners, local communities, landowners and growers. Funds also developed the associated growing skills, health and social benefits.

This has involved the establishment of four new Community Supported Agriculture schemes, five new local food co-ops, and the creation of three new community orchards.  The project has also developed beekeeping courses and grafting workshops, and involved hundreds of volunteers in practical work on land-based projects, as well as marketing and other organisational support work.

Mark Wheddon, Local Food programme manager, said: 'The Local Food Recognition Awards seek to celebrate the most outstanding community projects delivered with the help of Local Food funding.

'All our projects have made a positive and lasting impact in the communities in which they are based, helping local people in all manners of different ways to access, grow, prepare and understand the benefits of fresh, healthy food, so to be shortlisted for an Award is a tremendous achievement..

Simon Platten, project manager of Tamar Grow Local CIC, said: 'We're thrilled to be shortlisted for this national award and have been really pleased with the response from local people who have got involved and really got the project off the ground'.