Trudy Harrison will unite with fellow Cumbrian colleagues next week to showcase the very best of the county’s food and drink industry.
Trudy will join forces with the area’s five MPs on Wednesday in celebration of the third annual Cumbria Day.
The event, held in the Houses of Parliament aims to celebrate the very best of Cumbria’s food and drink.
More than 11 Cumbrian food and drink businesses have been invited to the event, with each MP inviting businesses from their constituency.
Mrs Harrison’s chosen business is the Byre Café in Bootle, owned by Jenna Hartley and Gemma Fox.
Trudy Harrison MP, said: “Cumbria’s food and drink industry is worth £300 million to our local economy and our produce has international recognition with three of the seven Michelin starred restaurants in the North West based in Cumbria.
“Cumbria Day showcases the food and drink on offer in Cumbria and The Byre Café is one of hundreds of food and drink businesses in Copeland, offering homemade jams, chutneys and preserves.
“The food and drink sector in Cumbria employs more than 16,000 people, therefore it is vitally important that we support our small and independently ran businesses throughout the year – they all work tremendously hard and I am looking forward to meeting each of the businesses and learning more about their produce next week.”
Recent ONS figures reveal that the farming and food manufacturing industries in Cumbria contribute five per cent of the county’s economic output, compared with two per cent in the rest of the UK, while farm related businesses represent a higher proportion of all businesses in Copeland and Cumbria than in Great Britain – accounting for 20 per cent of all businesses.
More people are also employed in food manufacturing in Cumbria than in the whole of the country.
Jenna Hartley, owner at the Byre Café, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in Cumbria Day bringing a little bit of Copeland into Parliament. It’s great to be able to showcase our produce to a wider audience and we’re looking forward to meeting the other businesses, MPs and sampling some of the products on offer.”
Other Cumbrian businesses invited to showcase their produce at Cumbria Day include Cranstons butchers, Dent Brewery and The Toffee Shop.
The event is being sponsored by Sellafield Ltd and Taste Cumbria.
Sellafield Ltd head of community and development, Jamie Reed said: “At Sellafield Ltd, we’re proud to be part of the fabric of Britain’s most beautiful county. But there’s so much more to Cumbria than its stunning scenery. Our energy, ingenuity and dedication gave birth to the nuclear industry and helped power the UK for generations.
“And now we’re providing the solutions to nuclear clean-up at home and abroad; developing skills and technology that will help power the UK’s economy through the 21st century. Cumbria’s best days are ahead of it and we’re delighted to be able to help Trudy showcase the unique quality of our special county during Cumbria Day.”
