Described as the warm-up for 2012, when the British Food Fortnight  will change its dates to run at the same time as the London Olympics, this year's Fair opens on 18 September with a galaxy of the great, the good and the surprising in food terms joining together to celebrate nationally something we really have good reason to be be proud of, be it food, drink or the outstanding people who contribute to it.

What brings the Duchess of Cornwall, Sure Start Children's Centres, Universities, the British Army, Cabinet Office, BBC, Hairy Bikers, John Lewis and the National Trust to name just a few, all together in one Big Cause? Answer, British Food Fortnight.

Schools are taking part en masse  this year in a Schools Challenge. Secondary school pupils are being challenged to design and cook a meal based on recipes that would have been used in their school's part of the country by previous generations. The winning school will be invited to London to cook their chosen meal for HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and the Hairy Bikers, which on the face of it seems a strange union but perhaps she's a fan?   More...