Do you make a positive contribution to the conservation of our lovely Kent landscape? So why not get rewarded for your efforts?
NEW FOOD AWARD CATEGORY: LAST CHANCE TO ENTER!
Do you make a positive contribution to the conservation of our lovely Kent landscape? Why not enter the first ever Kent Food, Farming & Landscape Award
It will be a very happy new year for one talented and innovative farmer, who will be awarded the first ever Kent Food, Farming and Landscape Award. The prestigious award is sponsored by the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is the latest addition to the highly respected and Produced in Kent inspired Taste of Kent Awards. The new award is open to all categories of farmers and food producers to enter - from livestock and arable through to fruit farmers and juice producers.
This is a free to enter competition and there are just a few weeks left till the closing date, farmers have until Tuesday 3 January to get their entries in via the Special Awards page on the www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk website. The Kent Food, Farming and Landscape Award will recognise the exemplary achievement of a food producer or farmer who makes a real contribution to the conservation and sympathetic development of Kent’s outstanding landscape.The award, which is the brainchild of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit,will also welcome entries from farmers who have diversified their business beyond food production into other industries such as tourism that continue to enhancethe unique landscape of their farms.
Commenting on the exciting new development for Kent’s most popular and longest running food and drink awards, the Taste of Kent Awards 2012, Julie Monkman, manager of Produced in Kent said: “Our farmers are often the unsung heroes of the ‘Garden of England’ but this award will reverse that with a glittering awards night and prestigious trophy and a wave of publicity to raise the winner’s profile. Whilst the demands of the job see many farmers working 24/7 throughout the spring, summer and autumn – I hope the relative peace of the upcoming holiday season will encourage lots of farmers back indoors to get their entries in ahead of the January deadline.”
The short-listed finalists will receive a visit from the judging panel as part of the final judging process and the three farmers submitting the strongest entries will be invited to a glittering awards night at Oakwood House Hotel in Maidstone on 2 March 2012 – where the winner of theKent Food, Farming and Landscape Award will be revealed. The black tie evening will feature a beautiful four course dinner with local produce, dishes and wines and will be followed by the awards ceremony. A limited number of additional tickets are on sale to farmers looking to enjoy this fabulous industry event and for more details go towww.tasteofkentawards.co.uk
Nick Johannsen of The Kent Downs AONB is acting as liaison officer to answer any queries from farmers about the entry process and judging criteria. Call 01303 815170 or email Nick Johannsen on mail@kentdowns.org.uk.
Official entry forms can be found on the Taste of Kent Awards website on www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk
Entries must be in before midnight on 3 January 2012.
