A  TASTY SUCCESS

 Over 3400 people turned up to the Buckland Abbey Food Festival 

Organised by Food & Drink Devon ‘Love the Flavour’

46 local food and drink producers showcasing their goods at the Food & Drink Festival, was overwhelmed with over 3400 visitors in just one day, some of the stands sold out within hours of opening the doors by Mayor of West Devon, Cllr Alison Clish-Green. The one day event was organised by Food & Drink Devon held in partnership with the National Trust at Buckland Abbey near Yelverton, on Wednesday February 17, 2010. 

There was a wide variety of produce available to taste and buy including goats cheeses, tangy chutneys, preserves and delicious jams.  Also on offer to tempt the palate was home made breads, cakes and pastries, succulent sides of beef, pork, lamb and venison, superb homemade sausages, organic burgers, pates and pies. And to round off, fruit cordials, apple juices, ciders, wine and beers. 

Buckland Abbey was the ideal location to enjoy local food and drink, something which Jonathan Cummins, the Visitor Services Manager at Buckland Abbey, recognises as vitally important to both visitors and locals.  He said:  "We serve as much local food as possible. We always try to source our products as locally as possible to reduce our food miles and to support local businesses.”

Robin Deitch, Food & Drink Devon Network Coordinator & organiser of the event would like to thank everyone who came to the festival and apologies to anyone who was turned way at the gates, "I really didn't want to turn anyone away but we had to due to health and safety and parking issues at the Abbey, we had already extending the parking onto the grass, but due to the bad weather the night before, it was very wet & slippery and cars was getting stuck, we didn't have enough room inside either, it was very hectic at times, will didn't expect the amount that we had, but everyone seem to enjoy themselves had had a great time".

Food & Drink Devon offers business support and training opportunities to small scale local food and drink producers throughout Devon. The Food & Drink Devon Network Development Project is funded by Greater Dartmoor LEAF, incorporating funding from the EU, Defra, SWRDA and LEADER and West Devon Borough Council, South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council and Food & Drink Devon.

For information, please contact Robin Deitch,

Food & Drink Devon Network Coordinator on 07817 043588

or email on robin@lovetheflavour.co.uk  www.lovetheflavour.co.uk

EDITORS NOTES

Food & Drink Devon is a business led, quality assured network of members from around Devon that produce, sell or use Love the Flavour products.  Members follow sustainable business guide lines and are encouraged to use the Love the Flavour brand and support the company mission to make Love the Flavour a nationally recognised brand for outstanding sustainable food and drink.Food and Drink Devon, has a growing reputation for its Love the Flavour brand for outstanding quality local food and drink.  www.lovetheflavour.co.uk