Yorkshire Show - Elizabeth Truss and Sir Gary Verity

Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss and Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity at the Great Yorkshire Show

A new government grant, aimed at promoting food and tourism in the UK, is set to strengthen fresh produce businesses nationwide.

The funding, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ British Food Unit, will be open to growers, suppliers and producers.

Local partnerships, including community groups, trade bodies and National Parks will also have the chance to group together and bid for up to £25,000 each.

Speaking at the Great Yorkshire Show on 13 July, outgoing environment secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “Food is at the heart of our culture and we want it to be at the heart of our tourism trade too. It creates wealth, jobs and opportunity for countless rural areas.”

Truss has called on the Yorkshire’s food community set up a network of new foodie tourist trails, and has encouraged the region’s food businesses to bid for their share of the grant.

“I would encourage Yorkshire's growers, suppliers and producers to bid, through Welcome to Yorkshire, for this funding to continue to grow and showcase the region's fantastic culinary offering to the world and shout about our Yorkshire food identity.”

“From forced rhubarb to Wensleydale cheese, perfect pub lunches to Michelin star dining, Yorkshire is home to some of our finest food and drink.

“I want to see local partnerships take advantage of this new grant to take Yorkshire’s status as a dining destination to the next level.”

Funding money will be used to champion regional food and drink, growing local businesses and potentially creating more jobs.

According to Visit Britain, food is a major factor in deciding where to visit for a third of all visitors. New research published today shows the importance of food and drink in attracting tourists to rural areas with £5.7 billion spent by visitors to rural areas in 2013.

Defra’s new fund is part of the wider Great British Food Campaign, which was launched by Truss at the beginning of the year. It celebrates the UK food industry and culture and is designed to drive growth and jobs in the sector.

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