FRESH to your door is the usual way for one North Yorkshire company - now it's aiming to be fresh to the banquet.

Food wholesaler Moorsfresh is set to be involved in the Eat Local Banquet to be held next month.

The prestigious Evening Press-Dean Court Hotel event to showcase and celebrate the very best of local produce is to provide the very best of Yorkshire food - with Moorsfresh playing an important role alongside other local producers supplying food for the event.

Managing director Nigel Brotherton said: "We are very happy to be taking part in the banquet, Eat Local is what we are all about. We are on a mission to get local produce out to people, to let people know about it, try it, enjoy it.

"That is what we think this banquet is all about, it should be a great experience."

The Pickering-based firm has been supplying shops, cafs, bed and breakfasts and hotels in the region since its launch, last November.

Mr Brotherton founded the business when he experienced first-hand the problems of supplying specialist local foods to a "hungry" market.

He said: "We were setting up a shop about a year ago, and really just found it very difficult to get the right goods when we needed them, so we decided to set up our own business."

With about 40 producers, Moorsfresh now provides everything from fresh meats and cheese to chutney, juices and beer, so the eight-course banquet could include just about anything.

Now, Evening Press readers, who have already made the competition such a success, have the chance to try the best Yorkshire can produce, prepared especially by the expert chefs at the Dean Court Hotel - the menu is being released this week.

A limited number of tickets are available for the exclusive event, at the Best Western Hotel on May 15 - so book early to have your chance, at the great price of only £35 per guest.

Seats can be reserved by contacting the Dean Court Hotel on 01904 625082, by fax on 01904 620305 or emailing Sales@deancourt-york.co.uk.

Keep your nominations coming in for the Eat Local competition, your chance to recognise your favourite local produce, and the very best of the region's food.

Updated: 08:52 Wednesday, April 23, 2003