PLANS to create strong new Yorkshire food brands - and encourage local people to eat them - were launched today at the Great Yorkshire Show.

And the Evening Press won praise for helping to lead the way through its Eat Local campaign, with some of our competition winners singled out for providing examples of best practice.

"What you have done is very much appreciated," said Gordon Kingston, rural director at the Government Office for Yorkshire & the Humber.

Two rural businesses, Farmer's Cart of Towthorpe and Ainsty Farm Shop of Green Hammerton, were highlighted for the way they have diversified and shortened the food chain between producer and consumer. The Farmer's Cart will be presented with our Eat Local supreme champion award at the showground tomorrow, while Ainsty won an Eat Local award last Friday.

Mr Kingston was speaking in advance of the publication today of Farming And Food - A Framework For Change, a regional delivery plan to implement the Government's strategy for sustainable farming and food.

Stakeholders behind the plan say they want to reconnect local farmers with the public, while providing a sustainable, profitable future for Yorkshire's producers.

A spokeswoman said that despite large urban populations close to farming areas and good transport links, the market for locally-produced food was currently small.

"And few distinctive Yorkshire brands have developed, with the exception of a number of cheese and meat producers."

Under the proposals, a strong Yorkshire brand would be established, and produce from the region would become the first choice for all, providing safe, quality and healthy food from a profitable and sustainable sector.

Links would be built between local food and tourism to maximise the use of local produce in catering and through retail outlets. Local food distribution would be encouraged, along with a properly-supported network of farmers' markets, offering a wide range of traceable, safe local food.

Mr Kingston said it was essential that links between the food producer and the consumer were rebuilt. "We also have to ensure that the food they produce is easily accessible to the public, through local shops, farmers markets and restaurants."

Rural businesses needing help and advice were able to meet specialist advisers at the show.

Business Links throughout Yorkshire joined forces on stand 634 with advisers on hand to meet visitors on all three days. Following the foot and mouth crisis the Business Link network has continued to play a central role in helping hundreds of rural and farm-based businesses on the road to recovery. - including offering help to draw up and implement business plans and on-going support.

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, July 08, 2003