The British Food Fortnight does exactly what it says on the tin: two weeks spent celebrating the best and brightest of British cuisine.
That means hundreds of activities in communities across the UK are planned for the autumn.
Morrisons has partnered with the British Food Fortnight for 2024, with community champions in supermarkets across the country working with local people to reward those promoting access to fresh, seasonal British produce.
Read on for details of all the varied events taking place as part of the British Food Fortnight and when they will take place.
What is the British Food Fortnight?
The British Food Fortnight aims to promote British food and produce and educate people of all ages about nutrition and seasonal produce.
To get people of all ages interested in food, there are fun activities and special menus planned for school.
The British Food Fortnight school menus are being run by school catering managers, with the Local Authority Caterers Association helping to coordinate it at a national level, meaning hundreds of schools are taking part.
Outside of schools, the menu is being promoted in pubs, restaurants, and major food vendors ranging from catering for the Houses of Parliament and the British Army to hospitals, HM prisons, and farm shop cafes. Wright Bros will also hold two events showcasing seasonal menus at their London restaurants.
NHS Trusts are also coordinating special menus throughout the two weeks for both patients and staff.
Look out for events and tastings in major supermarkets, not just restricted to Morrisons, but across the country as well. You can find events near you using the directory on the British Food Fortnight’s website.
In some areas, there are also community-organised food festivals to celebrate the harvest at this time of year. For example, Oxfordshire’s Thame Food Festival is getting in on the actions, as well as Shropshire’s Ginger and Spice Festival and the Abergavenny Food Festival in Wales.
When is the British Food Fortnight?
The British Food Fortnight will take place from September 20 to October 6.
It’s timed to coincide with the harvest, when farmers across the UK will be harvesting British food and produce.
How to get involved in the British Food Fortnight
There are various events to get involved with during the British Food Fortnight. One example is the Great British Pie Challenge, inviting chefs and caterers across the UK to create a pie using British ingredients and adding to their menus during the fortnight.
Chef and restaurateur Phil Howard is leading the judging panel and looking for entries to include a story behind the pie or ingredients, touching on history, heritage, or provenance.
Community events are also the heart of the British Food Fortnight, with everyone being encouraged to organise foodie events in their local area.
