Sussex Food & Drink Awards has opened for entries to find the county's best local food and drink businesses in 2012/13, with exciting changes to the judging process in this year's competition.

 Nominations for these prestigious awards, now in their seventh year, are being taken from now until early May at www.sussexfoodawards.biz for the finest local food and drink producers, farmers, food/farm shops, farmers markets, butchers, young chefs and food outlets.

 The judges, chaired by food industry expert Clive Beddall OBE, will be reviewing entries made from business owners or their customers and announcing a shortlist for each of the eight categories for public voting at the awards launch at the South of England Show on Thursday 7th June. It's a very simple process and can all be done online at www.sussexfoodawards.biz and by screening nominations we hope to encourage some of the smaller producers and retailers around the county who may in the past have been put off entering the competition thinking it's only for larger companies.  

Thanks to our  long-term supporters Mayo Wynne Baxter, Knill James, Southern Co-operative and Harveys Brewery and new sponsors Gram UK Ltd and Cheese Please. We have just two categories still available for sponsorship - so contact Sandra Murphy at sandra@naturalpr.biz if you are interested.

Brighton Food Festival's 'Spring Harvest' got off to a flying start at Hotel du Vin on Friday, with speeches from Caroline Lucas MP, Peter Field -Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Roger Marlowe - chair of the festival and Andrew Kay, kicking it off in style. Superb food from local restaurants and a toast of Court Garden Vineyard's delicious Sussex sparkling wine set the tone for a week of fantastic foodie events. Make sure you don't miss the Big Sussex Market in New Street and Jubilee Street and the Live Food Show and Children's Food Festival in the Corn Exchange today and tomorrow. And the first Fish Festival in Bartholomew Square is offering fishy fun all day Monday, with special events and a few surprises in the early evening - go along and enjoy this free fun! All details at www.brightonfoodfestival.com.