TODAY the Yorkshire Post's Uniquely Yorkshire campaign steps up a gear when we travel to London to present thousands of signatures supporting special protection for Wensleydale cheese.
The Yorkshire Post, together with representatives from Wensleydale Dairy Products, will hand more than 14,000 signatures to Richmondshire MP William Hague, supporting its application for protected status like Champagne or Parma Ham.
Mr Hague, who
was one of the first people to back the campaign, will pass on the petition to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its consultation process before the application goes to the EU for a final decision.
Wensleydale Dairy Products, which is based in Hawes, submitted its application for Real Yorkshire Wensleydale last summer.
If granted, it would mean manufacturers outside the Yorkshire dale would be unable to make a cheese and call it Real Yorkshire Wensleydale
The application is currently going through a 12-week consultation process, which ends on March 12, before it is submitted to the EU.
Mr Hague said: "Protected Designation of Origin status would ensure that poorer quality Wensleydale cheeses made elsewhere are easily identifiable, thus benefiting Wensleydale cheese producers in Wensleydale. I am sure once a consumer has tasted the real thing, they will not return back to an inferior alternative."
The Uniquely Yorkshire campaign has generated huge interest from people all over the world who have eagerly supported the cause.
Thousands of people have signed the petition at Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, Castle Howard, the Yorkshire Post website and by filling out coupons in the paper.
The managing director of the Wensleydale Creamery, David Hartley, said he was astonished by the support the campaign had received from cheese lovers and retailers from around the world.
Chefs Brian Turner and James Martin are among those who have pledged their support. Others include the region's MEPs, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Bettys tearooms, Morrisons supermarkets and the Bard of Barnsley, Ian McMillan.
Only 29 British products are currently protected by the EU, whereas other European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Italy, have hundreds.
Only Swaledale Cheese and Swaledale Ewe's Cheese have the protected status in Yorkshire.
Wensleydale Cheese, which has been made in the Yorkshire Dales since 1150, is produced from 36 dairy farms, all within 12 miles of Hawes.
Tickets for the trip to London were provided by GNER.
