Keeping local food firmly on the menu

Next month sees the eighth annual Deliciously Yorkshire Awards. Catherine Scott was one of the judges and found out what the awards and the organisation mean for local producers.
Catherine Scott, from The Yorkshire Post, left and Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, at the Deliciously Yorkshire food judgingCatherine Scott, from The Yorkshire Post, left and Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, at the Deliciously Yorkshire food judging
Catherine Scott, from The Yorkshire Post, left and Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, at the Deliciously Yorkshire food judging

When Deliciously Yorkshire lost its funding two years ago some thought it might be the end of the organisation which helps promote the region’s food producers at home and aboard.

But taking a look round its shiny headquarters at Askham Bryan agricultural college near York, its fortunes have never seemed better. The not-for-profit organisation now has around 400 members from Yorkshire food and drink producers and hospitality outlets.

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It is here, in a refurbished building next to a cowshed on the collage’s farm, that for the best part of a week a panel of eight expert judges including chefs, food writers, retailers and the hospitality industry slurped, munched, licked, chewed and sniffed their way through the best that Yorkshire food and drink producers have to offer, but with no idea who produced it, as all judging is done blind.

Catherine Scott, from The Yorkshire Post, left and Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, at the Deliciously Yorkshire food judgingCatherine Scott, from The Yorkshire Post, left and Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, at the Deliciously Yorkshire food judging
Catherine Scott, from The Yorkshire Post, left and Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, at the Deliciously Yorkshire food judging

The result of their deliberations and machinations culminate in a glittering black tie awards ceremony, now held at the National Railway Museum, York, next month and recognised as the Oscars of the food and drink industry in Yorkshire and the Humber.

“We always used to hold our awards nearer the end of the year at Rudding Park,” explains Cath Clelland, Deliciously Yorkshire chair. “But producers felt it was more useful to have it earlier in the year so they could use their win in any branding for as long as possible.”

As a result, this year DY holds its awards at the culmination of the York Food and Drink Festival and includes an award voted for by visitors to the festival.

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Yorkshire and the Humber has had a membership organisation for more than ten years. For the first few years it was a pretty low-key networking organisation where people could share ideas. Then in 2002 the government realised the benefit of such an organisation which could help small food and drink producers evolve or diversify.

A number of regional food groups were set up with public funding, offering technical support to food and drink producers, including one for Yorkshire and Humber which included Deliciously Yorkshire.

But in March 2011 funding for regional food groups was cut and Deliciously Yorkshire was on its own.

“I was employed in 2010 as the food group knew the cuts were coming and we had to look at new revenue streams,” says Cath. Prior to the cuts, of the £2m turnover of DY, £1.7m of it was public funding, mainly through the now-defunct Yorkshire Forward.

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In the last 18 months DY has seen a complete restructuring which has included some job losses, Cath has had to look for different streams of income, including Local Enterprise Partnerships. As a result turnover has fallen to below £1/2m, and although times are tough, Cath is upbeat about the future.

“The majority of our members have remained loyal throughout,” she says. “We no longer have to respond to an agenda from outside, everything is led by the needs of our membership which is really positive. Where many organisation who lost their funding through the demise of Yorkshire Forward have closed we have survived.

“We really do rely on the support of the public to buy locally grown produce.

“Consumers now really want to know the provenance of their food and that is why an organisation like Deliciously Yorkshire is so important.”

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As well as the awards, DY produces a guide which includes all its members and also attends a number of consumer shows both home and abroad where members produce is showcased. They also work closely with retailers and farmshops.

DY also works with the hospitality industry to encourage them to use Yorkshire produce. This autumn they are launching a Breakfast Revolution encouraging B&Bs and other hospitality outlets along the route of the Tour de France to use Yorkshire produce

But the highlight of the year is the awards.

“It is a chance for producers to get their products judged by an experts panel and get feedback,” says Cath,

This year has seen a record number of entries for the 23 categories. All products go through a rigorous series of tests. Each product is graded blind on its appearance, texture and taste before judges are shown the products’ packaging and they are judged on that as well. Judges are also asked to add their comments on each product which is then fed back to the producers.

“They really do find the comments invaluable,” says Cath.

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My fellow judge was retailer Valerie Aston, buyer for Proudfoots Supermarkets, and an experienced judge compared to my novice status.

Other judges included BBC Radio Two food expert Nigel Barden and former DY winner, chef Stephanie Moon.

“It’s been an amazingly nourishing few weeks, taste-testing all the fantastic produce and hospitality this county has to offer,” says Nigel who was a Yorkshire-based wine merchant and land agent before he headed to London in 1991 to drama school and then started working in radio.

“The Deliciously Yorkshire Awards showcase some of the finest and burgeoning food and drink emanating from the county.

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“Yorkshire’s ethnically diverse make-up is reflected in the wide range of products entered into the awards. Judging has been a joy and privilege.”

• Members of the public are invited to the awards ceremony on September 25 at the National Railway Museum, York. Tickets £55 from www.delicisiouslyyorkshire.co.uk

Contenders for the crown

• Best Bakery: Harrogate Food Company – Sticky Toffee Pudding; Lottie Shaw – Seriously Good Yorkshire Parkin; Burtree Puddings – Orange Marmalade Pudding; Just Desserts – Curd Tart.

• Best Fresh Produce: Herbs Unlimited – Edible Flowers; Yorkshire Garlic/Copperwheat Agriculture – Yorkshire Green Garlic; Cedarbarn Farm shop – Fresh Vegetables; Swillington Organic – Organic Garden Share.

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• Best Fresh Meat: Swillington Organic – Free Range Organic Chicken; Eat Great Meat – Fillet Steak; Hinchliffe’s Farm Shop – Home reared rump steak

• Best Prepared Meat: Heck Foods – Chicken Italia Sausage; British Premium Sausage Company – Ian’s Meaty Balls; British Premium Sausage Company – Yorkshire Chorizo; The Farmer’s Cart – Pork Chipolatas. Best Fish: Staal Smokehouse – Hot Smoked Trout; Chapman’s Seafoods – Smoked Haddock Florentine Tart; Staal Smokehouse – Cold Smoked Salmon; Ye Old Sun Inn – Smoked Salmon.

• Best Drink: York Brewery – Minster; Sloe Motion – Sloe Whiskey; Sloe Motion – Sloe Port; Little Red Berry Co – Rhubarb Vodka Liqueur.

Best Savoury Condiment: Aaagrah – Mango Chutney with Saffron; Mercers of Yorkshire – Yorkshire Chutney; Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil – Smoked Chilli Dressing; Womersley – Raspberry and Apple Balsamic Vinegar.

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• Best Sweet Preserve: Shibden Mill Inn – Lemon Curd; Raisthorpe Manor – Sloe Port Jelly; Mercers of Yorkshire – Blackcurrant Conserve; Mercers of Yorkshire – Luxury Strawberry and Champagne Preserve.

• Best Confectionery: Sciolti Chocolates – Sea Buckthorn Truffle; Sciolti Chocolates – Cocoa Nibs and Seasalt Bar; Yorkshire Fudge Company – Traditional Fudge; Sciolti Chocolates – Orange and Chilli Bar. Best Dairy: Yummy Yorkshire Ice-cream – Toffee and Cherry Ice cream; Yummy Yorkshire Ice-cream – Hazelnut Ice cream; St Helen’s Farm – Natural Yoghurt; St Helen’s Farm – Goat’s Milk Ice cream.

• Best Ready to Eat: Nib Nibs – Mini Nibs; Yorkshire Crisps – Sweet Cured Ham and Pickle Crisps; Good Soup Company – Spicy Carrot Soup; Hinchliffe’s Farm shop – Small Pork Pie.

• Best New Product: Jollyum – Dairy Free Frozen Dessert Range; St Helen’s Farm – Goat’s Milk Ice cream; British Premium Sausage – Yorkshire Made Italian Salami; Keelham Farm Shop – Pick of the Picnic Range.

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