Lancashire produce will get a boost from a new initiative by the local tourist board to promote the county’s food producers and their products.
Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) has been awarded funding to help promote Lancashire produce and producers. The move follows the board’s recent Taste Lancashire food and drink activity that successfully highlighted the county’s appeal as a destination for food lovers.
LBTB will receive £120,000 over the next 13 months from DEFRA’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). This is part-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for rural development: Europe investing in rural areas.
The new focus will see LBTB working with producers and businesses in rural areas of Lancashire, with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging the use of local produce amongst industry partners. Other initiatives within the project include the establishment of Taste Lancashire dining experiences, working alongside high quality restaurants in Lancashire and support for trade and consumer food events, with the priority of introducing Lancashire produce to new markets.
A significant investment will also be made online, with the development of a new food section and full integration of food related content across the consumer website visitlancashire.com
LBTB’s corporate website lancashireandblackpool.com will also benefit from new food information aimed at industry partners.
Mike Wilkinson, LBTB managing director said: “The tourist board has already helped raise awareness of the quality of Lancashire food and drink outlets, through marketing campaigns and accreditation schemes. This new funding will enable us to work more closely with those working in our more rural communities; the producers who put incredible and distinctive produce on our tables and perhaps have had limited recognition for their great effort and commitment to Lancashire.”
Growers in Lancashire are invited to get in touch with the board to see how the new initiative might help them.
