Member Article

Big names back Northallerton’s Homegrown Food Festival

One of North Yorkshire’s biggest food festivals has gained the backing of a range of well-known businesses as it makes plans for its AGM.

Northallerton’s Homegrown Food Festival has clinched sponsorship with the Kerfoot Group- famed for its high quality oils for the food, personal care and technical sectors, department store Barkers of Northallerton, the award-winning Wall’s County Town Brewery and car dealership, Simon Bailes Peugeot.

In addition, organisers have announced that of the 120 stalls available, over 70 have already been taken by names including Chunk Chocolates, Richmond Brewing Company, Big D’s BBQ, Thompson’s Butchers, Casa Rustica, Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream, Olivia’s Artisan Bakery and many more.

The AGM takes place on Wednesday 6th May at Trufitt’s Tap and everyone is welcome to come and find out more about this year’s festival as well as how to become one of the volunteer ‘Festival Makers’ for the day itself.

Since starting as an idea amongst friends in Northallerton in 2011, the Homegrown Food Festival has become one of North Yorkshire’s biggest foodie events, last year attracting over 6000 visitors.

Now in its fourth year, this year’s event takes place on Sunday June 28th at the Applegarth in Northallerton.

As well as the wide variety of stallholders, including local food producers, restaurants and cafes, farmers and more, other activities at the free event include a Food Theatre featuring award-winning chefs soon to be announced, the Tipple Tent serving locally-brewed beers, spirits and wines, a Kids’ Kitchen with fun, interactive cookery workshops for children, two stages of live, local music and the Grow Zone, a community garden to encourage people to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs, no matter how small their garden.

One of the organisers, Nicky Smith, said: “The Homegrown Food Festival started as a simple idea amongst a group of friends several years ago. Our aim was to create an event that unites the community in celebrating and sampling the great food and drink produced on its doorstep. We could not have ever imagined that it has become one the biggest and most popular foodie event in North Yorkshire. We are thrilled that such well-known names have come on board as our sponsors and to have so many stallholders already confirmed is such a boost too.”

David Kerfoot, Chairman of the Kerfoot Group, said: “The Homegrown Food Festival is a fantastic event bringing together all that is good about food, drink and our community. The spirit throughout the day is exceptional and my abiding memory from last year is one of seeing so many happy people enjoying the very best of North Yorkshire.”

Ollie Pepper was one of last year’s ‘Festival Makers’ and said: “Volunteering at the Homegrown Food Festival is great fun. You’re surrounded by brilliant members of our local community and so much amazing food, drink and entertainment.”

Celebrity chefs are to be announced in the coming weeks. Last year, Yorkshire born chef, Brian Turner, entertained the crowds and was joined by, amongst others, Paul Jackson from the acclaimed Hare Inn at Scawton and Kirsty Cruickshank, creator of the For the Love of Fish Cookery School.

For more details about volunteering, please contact Sally Anderson on 01609 772529 or 07906 662403

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .