TAVISTOCK is celebrating after leapfrogging opposition in a major regional competition to find the Best Food Town in the West Country. The town?s portfolio submission so impressed judges that Tavistock scooped a coveted place in the final, bypassing the need for an interim round of inspections by the judging panel. The town?s entry in the competition, being run by ITV Westcountry and supported by South West Tourism and the Regional Development Agency?s South West food and drink group, was submitted by Tavistock Forward. John Taylor, Tavistock Forward chairman, said: ?It?s just lovely to zap straight into the finals like that ? it?s absolutely super. ?Now Bridport and Totnes, who are in our category, are fighting to join us in the finals. ?The organisers were really very complimentary about our portfolio ? I should therefore like to take the opportunity of thanking all those people who helped us with our submission. ?It is now up to all our local food producers, suppliers, caterers, users, schools and care homes, shops, restaurants and hotels, etc, to convince the visiting judges that we are the best local food town in the South West.? Mr Taylor said the judging panel, which will include at least one celebrity figure recognised for their commitment to local food or drink, was due to visit Tavistock some time between February 27 and March 13. A meeting was due to take place today (Thursday) to plan the presentation to the visiting judges. Mr Taylor said they would focus on around six examples, demonstrating the uptake and promotion of local food and drink within the area. He said they had a ?huge? range of examples from which to choose, from nationally recognised retailers like Country Cheeses in Tavistock, to Crebers, Princetown Brewery, the Horn of Plenty, award-winning vegetable and meat producers and organisations making great strides in using locally sourced produce, such as schools and Dartmoor Prison. They could also be shown a DVD of the hugely popular Tavistock Food and Drink Festival, organised by Tavistock Business Association. Peter Gorton, masterchef at the Horn of Plenty, and one of the committee members driving the competition bid, said he was ?really delighted? at the town?s success so far. ?For me, it just shows that the hard work that everybody is doing in Tavistock has really contributed ? you are talking the farmers? market, the food festival, the independent shops, the eatwise campaign which is working with the local schools ? it really enthuses me that Tavistock has so much to offer,? he said. Chris Bradfield, competition co-ordinator, said Tavistock?s entry had been ?particularly strong? among the field of more than 22 communities. There were already ?strong indications? that the competition was having a ?very positive effect? on the communities who had entered. ?It?s spurred people on to do things that they might not have done otherwise,? said Mr Bradfield, who added that a number of initiatives to support local food and drink producers had been launched as a result of the competition. Following the final round of judging, two representatives from every community reaching the finals will be invited to an awards ceremony in Exeter, where the overall competition winner will be announced. The ceremony is likely to take place on March 30. l There is still time to win a place on a Peter Gorton cookery course by completing a short survey aimed at finding out how important local food is to residents of the area. Simply download the survey from www tavistockeatwise.com or http://www.tavistockforward">www.tavistockforward. org.uk or pick up a form from Tavistock Library or West Devon Borough Council?s offices at Kilworthy Park.
