Hampshire boasts some of the most delicious foods in the country. A foodie's paradise in the form of a festival celebrating the county's top fare has just been launched...

IT IS probably fair to say that as we wend our way around the fresh food aisles of the local supermarket, casually placing fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheeses and meat products in our shopping trolleys, most of us don't give much thought to where those items have come from.

But it would probably surprise many that most of those items can be bought fresh from our own county.

Meats, fruit and vegetables, drinks and dairy products are all produced by local farmers, gardeners and other businesses.

In fact, it would be possible to host a dinner party made up entirely of food and drink supplied by Hampshire producers.

How about starting with an award-winning soup from The Soup Ladle in Portsmouth, accompanied by bread baked with flour produced by Bursledon Windmill. It might be followed by a meat or fish dish made with ingredients from any one of countless local farms and fish farms including Broughton Water Buffalo, in Broughton, and Franklyn's Fish Farms in Alresford. And for the sweet tooth the perfect choice for dessert would be toffee, vanilla or coffee-flavoured buffalo milk ice cream being developed by Laverstoke Park near Overton.

The table water might be still or carbonated Hildon Mineral Water bottled in Broughton near Stock-bridge, the wine one of the many varieties produced by Wickham Vineyard in Shedfield, and for the teetotallers, apple juice made by Hill Farm Products in Swanmore.

If you like to finish a meal with a cup of coffee or tea, then this might be the only time you will have to venture away from local produce.

Even the after dinner chocolates could be straight from Beaulieu Chocolates, the Alres-Ford Chocolate Comp-any or Linzi's of Lymington.

Local produce includes everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to confectionery, chutneys, ready meals and crisps.

Hampshire has a wealth of local producers and by purchasing food and drink that is grown and produced locally we can support the local economy, boost tourism, and help strengthen links between urban and rural communities. We can even improve our health into the bargain.

Launched yesterday, Hampshire Food Festival is aimed at raising awareness of local produce.

The largest event of its kind in the UK, the festival, which takes place from June 25 to July 10, includes around 130 events across the whole county. Included this year is Hamble Valley Food and Drink Festival focusing on more than 60 events in Eastleigh borough.

Visitors to participating venues can choose from a huge variety of events including open days and farm walks, cookery demonstrations, product tastings and jam making, beekeeping and trout fishing.

The Watercress and Baby Salad Leaf Tour at Pinglestone Farm in Alresford, the Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Barbecue at Wickham Vineyard in Botley Road, Shedfield and the Pigs in Woodland Habitat Tour in Fordingbridge are just some of the events organised for the fortnight.

Shops and restaurants selling locally produced foods are also being promoted throughout the festival in a 'Guide to local producers of food, drink and craft in Hampshire'.

Personalities headlining the festivals include Italian chef and Hamp-shire resident Antonio Carluccio, organic gardener Bob Flowerdew and vegetarian cookery author Rose Elliott.

Children will also be able to join in, with cookery workshops, a mad hatter's tea party and countryside open days organised especially for the youngsters.

Included in the packed calendar of events will be the regular Hampshire farmers' markets, with two being held in Winchester - the largest in the UK - during the two week period.

Laverstoke Park, the organic farm where the festival was launched on Wednesday, is just one of the farms which will be holding open days during the festival. The park, owned by former Formula One racing driver Jody Scheckter, will be open to the public on July 2 and will include cookery demonstrations, tractor rides and a chance to meet the animals, including buffalo, lambs and wild boar, up close.

Festival organiser Tim Brock of Hampshire Fare, said: "We would like to think this is a festival with a difference.

"The reason we have not put the venue on the posters is because there are 130 different venues across the county - which is where the Hampshire Food Festival really differs. We really are a countywide event.''

Anyone who would like a Hamble Valley Food and Drink Festival Programme should contact Sophie Boxall on 023 8068 8404, or for a Hampshire Food Festival programme contact Tim Brock on 01962 845999.

Some of the events which form the Hampshire Food Festival and Hamble Valley Food and Drink Festival:

SOME OF THE EVENTS WHICH FORM THE HMPSHIRE FOOD FESTIVAL AND HAMBLE VALLEY FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL:

Walks, tours and open days:

Watercress and Baby Salad

Leaf Tour - Pinglestone Farm, Alresford, Friday, July 8.

Beekeeping Experience - A&M Johnson Honey and Hive Products, Bishop's Waltham, Wednesday, June 29.

Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting & Barbecue - Wickham Vineyard, Shedfield, Tuesday, June 28.

Hill Farm Orchard Walk and Juice Tasting - Hill Farm Products, Southampton, Wednesday, June 29.

Strawberry Trail long distance guided walk, led by Hamble Valley tour guide, Sunday, June 26.

Hampshire Fruit and Nature Tour - Boyd Farming, Brockenhurst, Tuesday, June 28-Tuesday, July 5.

Warborne Farm Walk and Tasting - Warborne Farm, Lymington, Thursday, June 30.

Hamble Jazz Lunch - Priory Centre, Hamble, Sunday, June 26.

Jam Making Masterclass - The Real Jam & Chutney Company, Thursday, June 30.

Trout Fishing and Barbecue - Canute Caf, Southampton, Saturday, July 2.

Children's and teachers' activities:

Cookie Monsters Hands-On Food Workshops for Children - Dovetail Centre, Chandler's Ford or Hamble Priory Centre, Saturday, June 25/Saturday, July 9.

Children's Fancy Dress Mad Hatter's Tea Party - Canute Caf, Southampton, Sunday, July 3.

Themed Hampshire food and drink events:

There's Something Fishy Going on in Hamble - Hamble Quay, Saturday, July 2.

Charity Fun Day and Barbecue - Station Hotel garden, Netley Abbey, Saturday, July 2.

Hampshire Food Festival Weekend at Sir Harold Hillier's Garden, Ampfield, Saturday, July 9/Sunday, July 10.