This Newsletter is dedicated to inspirational stories about North Yorkshire producers and growers, farmers, farm shops, butchers, cafes, restaurants and other speciality local food outlets. You will find that they all share a dedication and commitment to providing the finest produce that North Yorkshire has to offer.

The web site food-yorkshire.co.uk is also your very own personal directory of recipes, seasonal tips and ideas. Let it take you on a journey of discovery across North Yorkshire. Be it organic, free range, traditionally reared or rare-breed it's all there just waiting to be discovered.

This Spring Newsletter includes not only stories that give a flavour of the many North Yorkshire successes you will encounter on our brilliant web site, but also several "newsy" items about all the wonderful local produce and some dates for your diary.

We hope you enjoy reading it.

Green Garden Herbs Spring Gardening Weekend
Saturday, 5th April 2008 and Sunday, 6th April 2008 (10am - 4pm)

You are bound to be spoilt for choice as there are more than 500 varieties of herbs and seeds to choose from at this innovative nursery. There will also be a display of unusual and rare species of these familiar varieties, including Agapanthus, Sweet Peas, Alpines and Perennials... [more]

The Dales Festival of Food and Drink
Saturday, 3 May 2008 to Monday, 5 May 2008

Held at Leyburn in the heart of Wensleydale, the Festival will take place across May Day Bank Holiday weekend... [more]

The Ryedale Festival of Food and Drink
Sunday, 25th May 2008 to Monday 26th May 2008

Castle Howard will once again form the stunning backdrop to the fourth Ryedale Festival of Food and Drink... [more]

Green Garden Herbs Summer Herbs Weekend
Saturday, 31st May 2008 and Sunday, 1st June 2008 (10am - 4pm)

Following their visit to the Chelsea Flower Show, the nursery hosts a weekend dedicated to Basils, Salad Herbs, Lavenders and Salvias... [more]

Open Farm Sunday
Sunday, 1st June 2008

Open Farm Sunday 2007 was a big success, so farmers across North Yorkshire are once again being encouraged to open their farm gates to the public on Sunday 1st June, 2008. The Open Farm campaign provides an excellent opportunity for children and adults to learn more about where their food comes from, and the environment in which they live. For more information visit www.leafuk.org

A great way to find great North Yorkshire food
Good food and North Yorkshire go hand in hand, but to find out exactly where to get your hands on the County’s culinary delights you will need a guide!

North Yorkshire County Council’s Fall in Love with Local Food Guide details where to buy a wide range of North Yorkshire food, including baking, dairy products, drinks, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, herbs, honey and sauces. It also lists farm shops, cafes and farmers markets. To be included in the guide, food must be produced from livestock raised or crops grown in the County. The listing also includes foods which are made from local produce but which also contain other ingredients. The guide has a foreword by television cook Annie Stirk, and also has features on several of the County’s producers. Keep this handy little guide in the kitchen or in the car!

Fall in Love with Local Food costs just £2.00, including postage, send a cheque made payable to North Yorkshire County Council to: Fall in Love with Local Food, Economic Development Unit, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AD.

Since the beginning of the year we have added twenty two new members with more coming on board all the time. We would like to extend a warm welcome to them and hope they reap the benefits of being part of the website.

To view the latest members entries click on the link below:

• Cedar Barn Farm Shop & Café, Thornton le Dale
• Le Chat Noir, Scarborough
• Hotel du Vin & Bistro, Harrogate
• Hunters of Helmsley
• Figs Catering & Hire Co, East Harsley
• Paganum Produce Ltd, Kirkby Malham
• Lewis & Cooper, Northallerton
• Number 8, Selby
• The Blackwell Ox, Sutton on the Forest
• The Royal Oak, Ripon
• The Wombwell Arms, Wass
• Wensleydale Dairy Products Ltd
• Swaledale Cheese, Richmond
• Blacksmith’s Arms, Lastingham
• Farmaround, Richmond
• Flat Top Farm Shop, Wigginton
• The White Swan Inn, Pickering
• White Horse & Griffin, Whitby
• The School House Inn, Low Marishes
• The Old Deanery, Ripon
• The Sportman’s Arms Hotel, Wath-in-Nidderdale
• The Buck Inn, Maunby