Sally Jackson, a pig farmer from North Lincolnshire, has been selected by romp writer and much-loved friend of the countryside Jilly Cooper as the ‘Face of British Food Fortnight 2011’. Sally will appear on the home page of the event's website in the build up to the national food promotion, which runs from September 17 to October 2.

The organisers of British Food Fortnight teamed up with Farmers Weekly magazine to find the ‘face’ to front this year's national food promotion. The aim was to find someone who conveys the characteristics of which British food and farming are proud - wholesomeness, hard work, reliability, integrity, a sense of tradition, healthiness and a bright future. The competition attracted double the number of entries since last year with people from across the farming industry proposing themselves as this year's ‘Face’: ruddy-cheeked farmers; fresh faced agricultural students; farmer's wives; butchers and even young children. See all the entries [here].

Commenting on her choice, Jilly Cooper says: “The finalists were a marvellous bunch of people but I have to say that I fell in love with Sally Jackson. She has such a lovely warm face and I was so impressed by the number of things that she does with her Pink Pig farm. It is fantastic that she has invited 1,500 school children to her farm because children are the future and it is so important for them to realise the wonders and importance of the countryside and the farming world. Sally is the perfect face to front British Food Fortnight.”

Alexia Robinson, organiser of the event, says: “We can hardly believe how the quest to find the Face of British Food Fortnight has taken off! To have double the number of entries is a great vote of confidence. British Food Fortnight is the biggest consumer promotion of this country's food and, with its plans to run alongside the Olympics next year, is entering its most exciting phase. Finding the perfect face to front it is more important than ever and in Sally Jackson we have found someone who epitomises everything that British Food Fortnight is about. She produces the most fabulous quality distinctive food that reflects the beautiful part of the country it comes from. And the work she does with children makes her a great ambassador for British Food Fortnight's school programme that goes from strength to strength every year!”

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

WHAT IS BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT? Running from 17th September to 2nd October and now in its tenth year, British Food Fortnight is the biggest national celebration of the diverse and delicious range of food that Britain produces. Hundreds of shops, pubs and restaurants take part every year with special menus and promotions as do councils, markets, hospitals, tourism attractions, hotels, youth hostels and many more. It is also an established date on the school calendar with hundreds of schools using the event as an opportunity to teach children about food. In 2012 the dates of British Food Fortnight will change, for one year only, to run 27 July - 12 Aug, the same time as the Olympics.

WHO IS SALLY JACKSON? Sally Jackson is co-owner of The Pink Pig Farm, a family business based near Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. Sally has always worked really hard to promote British food, running the Pink Pig Farm's café, farm shop and farm trail, serving fabulous locally sourced and home-grown food. The café and farm shop boasts that 54% of everything sold is grown or made on the farm. The shop also works with 30 local producers and has won numerous Gold Taste awards for its home grown, free range eggs, pork, bacon, sausages and homemade cakes.

The Pink Pig Farm has supported British Food Fortnight since the event's conception. Over 1,500 school children visit the farm every year to learn about food and farming, see crops grow, meet the animals and taste their homemade food. The farm also holds an annual Children's Food Festival that attracts over 400 guests every year and has resulted in Sally winning ‘Best On-Farm Attraction’.

On hearing she is the Face of British Food Fortnight, Sally exclaims: “It is wonderful for my family and all my team to win this recognition for their hard work promoting local, British food which, after all, is what we are all about.”

For more information about the farm see pinkpigfarm.co.uk.

WHO IS BEHIND BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT? British Food Fortnight is sponsored by ARAMARK and the Department of Health's 5 A DAY Just Eat More (fruit & veg) programme. It is supported by over 70 organisations led by Brakes, 3663, Compass, BPEX, EBLEX, Mitchells and Butlers, National Trust, QHotels, Quality British Turkey and Youth Hostel Association.