Using Local Produce
Interest in local and regional food - where it comes from and 
how it is produced - has increased considerably in recent years. Visitors are looking for a special dining experience. More and more people buy their produce at farmers markets and local produce outlets, such as farm shops. When they eat out or travel away from home, they are also interested in fresh, high quality food and drink - and in sampling local specialities and distinctive recipes.
The South East boasts a wealth of local food and drink, which has been grown, raised and produced in the county. Sourcing, preparing and serving this local produce can be a winning strategy for any hospitality business - one that will be appreciated by local residents and visitors alike. Using local produce can help you to attract new customers, boost sales and increase customer satisfaction.
TSE in partnership with the South East Food Groups with support from SEEDA have published guidance for local producers. 'Selling to Tourism and Hospitality Businesses' has been developed to help small and medium sized local food producers to sell their produce to tourism and hospitality businesses. It provides guidance and advice on who to sell to, how to nd these buyers, and what they will require from the local producer. It also provides some examples of local producers who are successfully supplying the tourism and hospitality sector, and who to contact if you want to nd out more about this expanding opportunity.
Each County in the south east has a local Food Group that promotes local produce. Find out more about what local produce is available in your area on the South East Food Group website.
If you would like more information on local produce contact Roger Budden on 02380 625 453.
FOOD FESTIVALS REPORT
One way to raise the profile of local produce is to hold a food and drink festival. Many events of this nature take place across the country already. Tourism SouthEast have compiled a report based on market intelligence and the experiences of festival organisers across the world to advise anyone thinking of holding an event on what they should be doing and what they need to be aware of.
Download a copy of this report and the findings of the research here
THE NEW FOREST BREAKFAST
The New Forest Breakfast is an exciting product designed to create stronger links between tourism businesses and local producers in the region. It can also offer an additional means of attracting the discerning visitor by way of a marketing advantage.
The Breakfast is high quality, tasty and seasonal. It has been developed with the help of local specialists and is comprised of locally derived, locally prepared ingredients that are widely and readily available. Caring animal husbandry and good farming practices underpin the New Forest Breakfast.
The New Forest Breakfast project enables you to reliably source all the products needed from specified centres, rather than having to shop around, by working with a special New Forest ordering and collection service. For further information visit the New Forest Tourism Association website.