by Barbara Cossins.

The 2022 Love Local Trust Local Awards are just beginning. Some of the finest Dorset food producers alongside some exciting new ones are all in this year’s entry mix. We have some wonderful stories from the 2022 entries, all with their own inspiring journeys to tell the wider community.
Just a few days ago, we gathered all our sponsors to do a blind tasting and sample the food from the award entrants. Delicious chocolates, melt in the mouth brownies, crunchy macaroons, delicious cheeses, real milk, incredible honey, home-made gin, beer and wine were all in the mix.
So now for the hard part as the judges will give up their valuable time and visit all our awards classes throughout October and November. They will also judge the other classes including Conservation & Sustainability, Business Growth & Development, Farm Shop and Hospitality.

We shall host a presentation evening and dinner at Dorset College of Agriculture, Kingston Maurward, on 9 February 2023 to celebrate the winners’ achievements. Everyone is welcome and more information and full details of how to attend will be on the website soon.

With the global food challenges we’re facing at the moment, it’s even more important to help tell the stories and promote these local, independent businesses that put their love and soul into everything they produce. It is a never-ending job to get one’s head around social media – and extremely time-consuming – so I can see why people shy away from it, but it’s a necessary evil for all businesses in today’s world. Building new websites is yet another expense when businesses face these rising costs, so rest assured, we will be telling their story for them. We don’t want all these amazing Dorset producers to be the best kept secret around. Let’s tell the world!

Remember how the Love Local Trust Local label all began? It was back in 2018 at our Open Farm Sunday when members of the public were telling us they wanted to support British local food producers but didn’t know who or what they could trust anymore. That was when we set about doing something about it. A label created for farmers by farmers.
It will be our turn again in 2023 to host Open Farm Sunday and I’m expecting it to be bigger than ever. People are interested in everything that is local and we will be showcasing what we have right here in Dorset. So a date for your diary is Sunday 11 June 2023. Make sure to find out which farms near you are open on that day, as it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the farmers and hear their stories.
And don’t worry, I will keep reminding you, as I know it’s a little way off.
Keep eating local everyone.
n Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local; www.thelangtonarms.co.uk; www.rawstonfarmbutchery.co.uk; www.lovelocaltrustlocalawards.co.uk