WITH cafe’s serving landfill food, catering companies helping the disadvantaged and volunteer groups using food to make friends family, Brighton and Hove’s food scene has community and sustainability at its heart.

The city’s food heroes have now had their hard work recognised as they have been hailed as pioneers who are “leading the way” to a healthier, more sustainable and more organic future.

Brighton and Hove was the only city in the country to be handed the Silver Sustainable Food Cities Award, honouring its green food projects and healthy eating initiatives.

Judges from the Sustainable Food Cities Network praised efforts to reduce childhood obesity, improving public sector food such as school dinners, and the blossoming number of community growing projects.

The bid for the prestigious award was launched by the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, which promotes healthy, ethical and sustainable food projects in the city.

Vic Borrill, director of the partnership, pictured, said: “It is great to receive this award on behalf of all the individuals, community groups and organisations across every part of Brighton and Hove who together are changing the city’s attitude towards food. The Food Partnership is proud to be at the heart of all of this amazing work – acting as a hub for information, inspiration and connection around food for the city. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.”

The momentous award was welcomed with a celebration held at Brighton’s hub of sustainable food the Open Market – with food and drink stalls, a short film and a pop-up garden.

Those behind projects such as The Real Junk Food Project, community catering company The Big Fig, the Brighton Permaculutre Trust, and the Pesticide Action Network all attended to celebrate the city being given the green thumbs up.

Tom Andrews, national programme manager of Sustainable Food Cities, said: “Brighton and Hove were the pioneers of this approach and their achievement in becoming the first silver Sustainable Food City demonstrates that cities can take on the incredibly serious food challenges that face us all and make a real difference.

“They are leading the way of one of the fastest growing social movements in the UK today.”

Brighton and Hove is the first city in the country to have food growing written into planning guidelines for residential developments.

Councillor Ollie Sykes said: “This is wonderful news for the city and a fitting tribute to the many organisations who continue to develop and promote sustainable food in Brighton and Hove.”