16.02.06
Hospitality stars to share wisdom on organic and local food

Some of the brightest stars of the Cornish hospitality trade are lining up to share their wisdom with chefs and caterers about sourcing local and organic food.

Top flight chefs Neil Haydock, the new head chef at Fifteen Cornwall and Ben Tunnicliffe of the award-winning Abbey Restaurant, will be among those speaking at a unique seminar on Tuesday 28 February at Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay, which is expected to attract nearly 50 chefs and caterers from across Cornwall.

According to organisers Organic South West and Taste of the West Cornwall the event is all about sharing experience and information, with the aim of inspiring more Cornish catering professionals to source local and organic produce. As well as talks from top chefs and producers, the event will also include the launch of the new Cornwall foodfinder directory 2006.

Traci Lewis, Organic South West project manager says that the event is filling up fast. "Retail sales of organic food grew by 10 per cent in 2004 and there are no signs of public demand slowing down," says Traci. "The South West has the highest number of organic farmers in the UK producing an incredible range of good food. Not only is public demand for organic food rising but it's also getting easier to source, so it makes business sense for the county's hospitality industry to tune in to sourcing local organic produce."

The event has been planned to coincide with ExpoWest Cornwall (a trade show for the hospitality catering and food retailing industry), which starts at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge on the same day. "We're hoping people attending our seminar will be inspired to go on to ExpoWest Cornwall and start sourcing locally there and then," says Angie Coombs, manager of Taste of the West Cornwall. "It's the time of year when chefs and hoteliers are looking for innovation and new suppliers and we want them to focus their search closer to home. Cornwall's got the quality and variety of producers and our seminar speakers have got the experience and know how. It should be a winning combination which we hope will make a real difference to how the Cornish hospitality industry operates."

Alongside chefs Neil Haydock and Ben Tunnicliffe, the seminar programme features Will Ashworth of Watergate Bay Hotel plus top food producers Philip Tanswell of Roskillys ice cream, James Kittow of Kilhallon Quality Meats, Sherry Boocock of Cornish food wholesalers 'From Plough to Plate', and fish wholesaler Matthew Stevens, to give an overview of key Cornish specialities.

To book spaces on the catering seminar, which runs from 9.30am to 1.30pm, call Organic South West on 01208 78988. Tickets are £15 including an organic buffet lunch. For more information about ExpoWest Cornwall visit www.expowestexhibitions.com. To request a copy of the Cornwall foodfinder directory 2006, contact Taste of the West Cornwall on 01579 349363 or visit www.cornwallfoodfinder.co.uk.

For further information please contact Emma Parkin of PR and Media on 01392 490009 or email: em.parkin@blueyonder.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in both Organic South West and Taste of the West through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Anyone considering a new horticulture, food and land based industries project is advised to speak with Maria Ford, at Government Office South West - 01752 635015 - before commencing development as there are now only limited funds available due to the successful uptake of funding by the agricultural sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Editor's notes:

A report on organics from market researchers Mintel forecasts that the organic food market will almost double again by 2010, from £1.2bn to more than £2bn. Concerns about chemicals in food combined with a trend for ethical and local products have led to organic sales almost doubling in the past five years.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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