Brighton & Hove City Council has celebrated securing £155,000 in government funding to improve the quality and supply of local food by joining a countywide campaign to put more Sussex food and drink on shop shelves and menus.
The council was allocated a DEFRA grant in recognition of its Gold Sustainable Food Places status and part of this funding will now be used on a local roll-out of Sussex Six – a campaign which encourages hospitality and retail businesses to pledge to take on at least 6 more local food and drink products or ingredients.
The Sussex Six campaign is run by Natural Partnerships, a community interest company which specialises in local food, drink and farming projects.
In Brighton & Hove, the government funding will see the council collaborate with Sussex Six and organisations like the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership to carry out significant work towards opening the door for more local food businesses to supply public sector organisations, such as hospitals, schools and colleges.
There will also be regular meet the producer events to put businesses in touch with providers and seasonal campaigns raising awareness of produce available locally during in-demand periods.
And any businesses which sign up to Sussex Six and make a pledge to use more local ingredients or products will also be invited to join the Sussex Food & Drink Network for free.
That means they will be featured on the campaign website and social media, listed in the Sussex Food & Drink Directory and receive a Sussex Six window sticker and digital marketing pack.
Almost 200 businesses across Sussex have done so already – making the Sussex Six pledge to take on at least 6 more Sussex food and drink products, boost local business, support the local community and reduce food miles.
The hope is that by rolling-out the campaign locally, Brighton & Hove City Council can encourage sign-ups from within the city’s thriving hospitality sector.
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “I’m excited to launch the Sussex Six campaign in Brighton & Hove and I would encourage Brighton & Hove retail and hospitality businesses to sign the Sussex Six pledge to serve and sell local produce.
“I’m also urging local residents to support our local businesses – we can grow our economy, create more jobs and opportunities and make our lives more sustainable by buying local and supporting our local food sector.
“We are proud that Brighton & Hove holds a Gold Sustainable Food Places Award, recognising our long-term work to improve the city’s food system, and this was something the government highlighted as part of the reason for choosing our city for this funding, which has been awarded to only 5 places in England.”
Hilary Knight, co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC, said: “We are delighted that Brighton & Hove is joining the campaign to get more local produce on the shop shelves and menus in the city, where there is such a wonderful range of food and drink offered.”
For more information on the Sussex Six campaign, businesses can visit: Sussexfoodanddrink.org.