UKTV Food launch national search

UKTV Food has launched a national search to discover Britain's ultimate local food champion and two Northumbria Larder members' businesses are in the running for the award.

Celebrity chef Brian Turner has been in the region recently filming at Tiptoe Farm, near Cornhill, in north Northumberland, where Anthony and Lucy Carroll produce Carroll's Heritage Potatoes. He also paid a visit to Steve Ramshaw's farm at West Woodburn, near Otterburn. Steve is one of the best-known organic farmers in the county.

Anthony Carroll was originally a cereal farmer before he diversified into potato farming. He now produces 23 different varieties of spuds, all of which pre-date the 1950's. Some of the varieties are as old as 1856 and Anthony helped to nurture varieties like the Dunbar Rover potato which had almost disappeared. The Carroll's have come a long way since first growing one acre of heritage potatoes in 2001. They now cultivate 50 acres and the potatoes are the farm's main produce. You can order the potatoes direct from www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk

Steve Ramshaw moved from inner city Newcastle to West Woodburn 25 years ago where he bought 700 acres of extremely run-down farmland. He has revitalized the farm which is now in the forefront of organic meat production in the North of England. Steve sells a range of organic, award-winning Aberdeen Angus beef, blackface and cheviot lamb, and renaissance quality mutton. Further information from enqs@northumbrian-organic-meat.co uk.

The public have the opportunity to add their voice to the voting for UKTV Food's search for its inaugural Local Food Hero awards, to be presented in a series led by Gary Rhodes, this November. Voting closes on August 21. To register your vote contact www.uktvfood.co.uk.