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The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs addressed the Local Government Association rural conference in Stratford upon Avon today, calling on public services including schools to buy more local produce and help farmers in their local areas.

Paterson said: "Britain needs to make a significant dent in the 22% of food that’s imported but could be produced here.”

He confirmed that the Government was looking at how it could work together with the industry to make it easier for businesses to grow in the UK market.

Reporting on an advanced copy of the speech, an article in today’s Daily Telegraph states that the rural economy is worth £211bn a year and supports one third of English businesses, despite only being home to one fifth of the population.
 
Commenting on the speech, LACA chair Anne Bull said: “School caterers are always keen to procure local, fresh food wherever possible, and must do so in order to deliver high standards and meet the requirements of the recently published School Food Plan.

"However caterers are required to comply with each council’s rules on procurement and its local requirements and therefore there is no national approach, with buying processes varying around the country.
 
"LACA encourages its members to buy locally-sourced, seasonal food and works with a variety of partners to assist caterers in doing so.”