A SERIES of food tours showcasing the best of Lancashire home grown produce have been set up for spring.

The producers hosting the Food Hero Tours range in size and include product sampling and behind-the-scenes tours of some of the area’s top suppliers.

From a small start-up poultry farmer producing golden yolk eggs to beef and lamb farmers regularly supplying Waitrose and Morrisons and delectable Lancashire cheese makers, the chauffeur-driven tour visits them all.

The ‘safaris’, run by Julie Whalley, of Buns of Bowland, a panel member on the award-winning Ribble Valley Food Trail, also include lunch and sightseeing.

Julie said: “By embarking on an organised tour you will meet with all types of producers from beef, lamb and pork farmers to perhaps trout, honey, beer or cider.

“You will have a much more in-depth experience with each producer than you would visiting casually.”

Featured producers include Gazegill Organics in Rimington, Burholme Farm in Whitewell, Dunsop Trout Farm, Ribblesdale Honey, based at Bashall Barn and not open to the public, and The Stable Trading Company at Whalley.

The tours are supported by the tourist board, local councils, Business Link, the Countryside and Landowners Association, the National Farmers Union, as well as local chambers of trade.

As well as the food and drink available in the RIbble Valley, the tour takes in all the area has to offer in spingtime — new lambs, lapwings and curlews nesting, the dairy herds appearing from their winter refuges and the freshest of the year’s vegetable and salad crops.

n The next Food Hero tour is on Tuesday, April 26. For more details or to book a place contact 01200 446 737.