MORE than 30 local food and drink producers will be showcasing their goods at a free Food and Drink Devon event being held in affiliation with the Ruby Country Partnership at the Cookworthy Forest Centre on September 2 from 10.30am to 3.30pm. 

Producers will be available to talk about their products while visitors savour, taste or buy in this beautifully wooded location. The event offers a great opportunity to get to know about local food and how to save on food miles by supporting local businesses.

There will be a wide variety of produce available to taste and buy including cheeses, chutneys, beef and lamb, preserves, jams, cakes and pastries, wine and cider.          

The free event, with refreshments and light lunches available, is open to both the public and commercial buyers and will be especially useful for hotels, B&Bs and restaurants to source new products for their menus.

There will be entertainment for children as well as walks around the forest, woods and streams. 

Cookworthy Forest is an ideal location to enjoy local food and drink, which Linda Davies of the Ruby Country Initiative and owner of West Lake Farm award winning apple juices and ciders, recognises is vitally important to both visitors and locals alike: 'We know that local food is one of the main reasons people come to Devon and hospitality businesses that use local food benefit from enhancing the visitor experience making them want to return time and time again. 

'This event will be a great opportunity for local businesses to source new products for their menus.'

Su Beswick, Food and Drink Devon network co-ordinator said previous events had been a great success, with more than 3,700 visitors enjoying the latest one.

'The producers all benefited from making new long term sales leads. These events are a great opportunity to network with like minded businesses and show how important local food is to the region.'

The event is organised by the Ruby Country Partnership and Food and Drink Devon, which offers business support and training opportunities to small scale local food and drink producers throughout Devon.