Now that judging is complete in this year’s Eastern Daily Press Norfolk Food Awards, finalists eagerly await the results to be announced on 15 September, as do Anglia Farmers – sponsors of the Plough to Plate Champion category.

One of 12 categories – ranging from Best Farm Shop and Best Farmers’ Market to Restaurant of the Year – Anglia Farmers sees it as a good way to support the Norfolk farming community.

Chief executive Clarke Willis said:

“The category for Plough to Plate Champion raises consumer awareness about the important role farmers have within the food production supply chain. With a large number of farmer members in Norfolk, I think it is right that we should support high profile initiatives such as this. Re-connecting the public with food and farming is very important.

“Added to which farmers are increasingly aware of the importance consumers place on food provenance. Many of them innovate to meet this need and this is evident through Norfolk’s growing number of food outlets such as organic produce box schemes, restaurants, farm shops, pick your own ventures and the manufacture of specialist foods such as ice cream, cheeses and gluten-free pies.”

The three finalists for this year’s Plough to Plate Champion are Norfolk Farmhouse Ice Cream, Nortons Dairy and Horstead Farming Group.