HAMPSHIRE Fare has been awarded joint second place in the national Love British Food Awards.

Not-for-profit organisation Hampshire Fare, the county’s food and drink group which works with farmers, producers and the hospitality industry, was particularly applauded for its work encouraging the next generation to eat locally and healthily.

The competition, now in its fifth year, is part of British Food Fortnight, and acknowledges the people and organisations behind the most imaginative and inclusive celebrations of local food across the country.

The judging panel was were looking for events that strengthened the local community, supported the economy and educated the public about British food and eating locally.

Tracy Nash, commercial manager for Hampshire Fare, said of the accolade: “At Hampshire Fare we are in a unique position, as we are well placed to introduce the county’s food and drink heritage to the next generation and educate them about the health and taste benefits of eating locally and seasonally. We see it as an important part of our role to show children where their food comes from, as we have found that if we show children the source of their food, they are much happier to try it.”

Ms Nash explained some of the group’s initiatives undertaken during British Food Fortnight. “We invited local fishmongers to schools to teach pupils how to fillet a whole fish. At first, we had one of the schoolgirls wincing at the sight of the raw fish and running out of the classroom, but by the end of the session she herself was having a go at filleting a fish.”

On another occasion, primary school pupils were taken to a watercress farm near Alresford to find out about this crop’s nutritional value, spending time standing in the water among the watercress in their wellies before enjoying watercress smoothies.