Devon County Council is involved in a number of local food projects and initiatives.

RAFAEL
DCC is leading on a European funded project called 'RAFAEL'.  We are promoting the benefits of buying local sustainable food and drink and we are working to develop more local trade within the local food sector.  By working with other regions in the Atlantic area, we provide the local food sector with the opportunity to share the experience and knowledge.

NORTH DEVON RURAL FOOD INTIATIVE.
Increasingly, visitors to Devon are concerned about where their food comes from and they want to enjoy locally produced food and drink as part of their holiday experience.  Devon is blessed with a wonderful diversity of produce but it can be challenging for hoteliers, restaurateurs and publicans to source Devon produce.  The North Devon Rural Food Initiative will involve a series of events across North Devon and Torridge, enabling the hospitality industry to meet producers, try their goods and then work to promote themselves as a local food business – to reap the benefits of this investment.

This project is being supported by Discover Devon Naturally in partnership with the North Devon Marketing Bureau and the Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve.

DISCOVER DEVON NATURALLY
A key element of the Discover Devon Naturally sustainable tourism project is the local food & drink initiative. This element seeks to establish stronger linkages between local food & drink producers and Devon’s hospitality sector. It also seeks to inform tourism providers of local purchasing opportunities and the marketing advantages that can be derived from local purchasing.  A number of activities have been set up to meet the aims of this project and including; a county-wide meet the buyer day – The 'Taste of Devon' event, a pilot Rural Food Initiative in North Devon, the sharing of best practice between local food and drink associations and tourism associations, as well as the national and regional marketing of Devon as a year-round destination renowned for its quality food and drink.

DEVON FOOD LINKS
A portal for information on local Farmers' Markets, the 'Devon Celebration of Food' event, useful links and case studies, as well as the Devon Food Finder, a directory of around 300 food and drink businesses across the county.

Organisations supporting the development of the food and drink industry throughout the South West:

South West Food and Drink
Tel: 01392 878333

Taste of the West
Tel: 01392 440745