?FANTASTIC? ? that?s the verdict on Tavistock being named best food town in the West Country. The award was made at a prestigious ceremony in Exeter last Thursday. Now it is hoped the victory will attract many visitors to the town. After preliminary rounds and an exacting judges? visit last month, Tavistock not only won the large towns category, but scooped the coveted overall title in the competition, sponsored by organisations including Westcountry Television and the Western Morning News. John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, which submitted the town?s winning entry, was at the ceremony to collect the awards. He said: ?It was just like the Oscars! Apparently there were only two people in the room who actually knew who had won, but it was a wonderful feeling ? we were just over the moon. We didn?t expect to win the overall prize, so it was absolutely lovely.? Mr Taylor said winning the competition would bring immense benefits to Tavistock. ?It should give the town huge publicity and we intend to use it. One of the judges was from South West Tourism and we?re going to liaise with them to make sure it?s promoted nationally to increase awareness of all the attributes of the Tavistock area, especially by promoting the wealth of local food resources.? Mr Taylor thanked everyone who backed the town?s entry so wholeheartedly. And he said coverage in the Times had played a part in the success. ?It was quite clear at the awards ceremony that you had given us a special edge that no other town had, which helped us to win the overall competition,? he said in a letter to the paper. Tavistock Forward is already turning its thoughts to next year?s event: ?We already have one or two ideas ? for example, we thought it would be nice to host next year?s award ceremony, as this year?s winner.? Judge Judith Ward, of the South West Regional Development Agency, said Tavistock deserved eleven out of ten for its ?enthusiasm, energy and commitment?. ?I think Tavistock was just outstanding and that?s reflected by the fact they were the overall winner.? She said it was impossible to pick one aspect where the town particularly outshone its rivals: ?To be honest, it was literally everything. It was inclusive right across the community, it was the breadth of activity, the depth of the process, their forward strategy, they really got everything together. It wasn?t just their submission, they really demonstrated it to the judges on the day, it was just so impressive.? West Devon Borough Council last year awarded Tavistock Forward £4,000 for its EatWise campaign. West Devon mayor Jayne Hill said: ?This is fantastic news and is the culmination of a great team effort by volunteers and organisations that have worked tirelessly towards gaining the award. ?By winning such an accolade, I?m sure there will be a huge ripple effect across the borough that will help a lot of businesses. It has such a positive potential for so many and I?m proud West Devon Borough Council played its part.? Tavistock mayor Cllr Jenny Metcalf said it was ?splendid? that Tavistock had won its category in the competition ? and ?absolutely wonderful? to have scooped the overall award: ?An enormous thank you to John Taylor and his colleagues in Tavistock Forward ? their inspiration and hard work have achieved great results for Tavistock.? Gary Jungheim, of Country Cheeses, Tavistock?s award-winning cheese shop, said: ?Country Cheeses is over the moon ? the best food town award shows Tavistock is worlds away from the multiple mentality.? Tavistock Farmers? Market manager Maria Jones said the organisation was ?delighted? Tavistock had won the title. ?The market is run by the community and we have some of the best producers in Devon ? this makes our market one of the most successful and certainly the friendliest. Hopefully this award will entice those who haven?t visited us to do so,? she said. The environmental charity Westden is one of the founders of the Tavistock EatWise Campaign. Director Anna Kennedy said: ?Westden is thrilled the producers and retailers of good food in the Tavistock district have been recognised by this award. ?People who use local shops and markets are familiar with the high quality of food produced in the area. If people need convincing about the economic, social and environmental benefits of sustainability, they need to visit one of our many excellent food outlets and see for themselves.? John Dixon, of Tavistock?s EatWise committee, said: ?Over the coming months we will be building on this award by ensuring the benefits of local food are enjoyed by everyone in our community. ?We are working with the public sector, care homes and tourism businesses, as well as local shops and restaurants, to ensure they make the best use of our abundant local produce.? Other initiatives in the pipeline include the development of a database of local producers, suppliers and places to buy and eat local produce in the area, establishing a Tavistock Food Trail, opening up farms, restaurants, pubs and production facilities for people to visit and supporting a local delivery scheme. A ?meet the farmers? event for local chefs and caterers will be held at Tavistock Farmers? Market on April 22, a series of cookery courses run by Westden starts on April 26, Tavistock Food Festival will be held at the end of July and a speciality cheese event at the end of August. l See Letters, page 4
