91Èȱ¬

A brewer who started out making cider in an airing cupboard; a woman who started a dairy business with a single Jersey cow; a head chef who decided to become a baker, and a charity that helps people grow fruit and veg in their local school playing fields – are just some of the finalists in this year's 91Èȱ¬ Food & Farming Awards.

Described by Jamie Oliver as "the Oscars of the food world", the 91Èȱ¬ Food & Farming Awards are now in their 11th year and will incorporate a new category for the Best Drinks Producer.

The awards, to be broadcast in a special edition of 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4's The Food Programme (26 November, 9am), celebrate the best of British food and all the finalists have been nominated by the public.

The categories are Best Food Market; Best Takeaway; Best Food Producer; Best Local Food Retailer; 91Èȱ¬ Farmer of the Year; Best 'Dinner Man/Lady'/Public Caterer; Best Retail Initiative; The Derek Cooper Award; and the new award for Best Drinks Producer.

Chair of judges, chef, Angela Hartnett, said: "This year's new drinks category is going to be an important way of recognising the dedication of a much neglected group of producers. Not only are drinks a crucial part of any meal, they can be the end product of someone determined to keep a tradition alive, or guarantee the future of an orchard. That's what these awards offer, a chance to celebrate something delicious that's also part of our social fabric."

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony held in November at the 91Èȱ¬ Good Food Show in Birmingham's NEC. The event, hosted by Sheila Dillon, presenter of The Food Programme, will feature chefs Raymond Blanc and Mark Hix and former Blur member turned cheese maker, Alex James.

The finalists for this year's awards are:

Best Food Market
St George's Market, Belfast
Stoke Newington Farmers' Market, London
Stroud Farmers' Market, Gloucestershire

Best Takeaway
Chillikoko Cuisine, Wigton, Cumbria
Kenniford Farm Hog Roast Van, near Exeter
Mr Dutchy's Caribbean Takeaway, Northampton

Best Food Producer
Alex Gooch (baker), Hay-on-wye, Powys
Brenda Leddy, Stichill Jerseys (dairy), Kelso, Scottish Borders
Guy Tulberg, (The Tracklements Co.) Malmesbury, Wiltshire

Best Drinks Producer
Henney's Cider, near Worcester
Sipsmith, London Dry Gin, London
Wye Valley Brewery, near Hereford

Best Local Food Retailer
Cranstons Food Hall, Penrith, Cumbria
Darts Farm Shop, near Exeter, Devon
Welsh Seafoods, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire

91Èȱ¬ Farmer of the Year Award
Jonathan Birchall, Farm Manager for Pilkington Farms, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Geoff Kidd, Marine Farm Manager, Scottish Sea Farms, Isle of Mull
Paul Mansfield, Nickle Farm, Canterbury, Kent

Best 'Dinner Man/Lady'/Public Caterer
Bob Davies, Easingwold Secondary School, York
Rose Southern, Normanton Retirement 91Èȱ¬, Shrewsbury
Ralf Strunz, Grove Children and Family Centre, Peckham, London

Best Retail Initiative
Sainsbury's Carbon Footprint Initiative
The Hand Made Bakery, Slaithwaite
Fodder, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate

The Derek Cooper Award
Richard Lutwyche
Middlesborough Environment City
The National Trust

More details at

A special awards programme will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Friday 26 November at 9am.

Notes to Editors

The Food Programme is on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 every Sunday at 12.30pm and repeated on Mondays at 4pm. Farming Today is on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 every weekday morning at 5.45am and on Saturdays at 6.35am. You can listen again online at bbc.co.uk/radio4.

The finalists in the Farmer of the Year category will be featured on Farming Today in the week of the awards ceremony.

TE