People from across Britain are being called on to nominate their local cooks, markets, food businesses and food heroes. 

 The panel will be looking for winners in a range of categories:

Best Food Producer, Best Drinks Producer, Best Food Market, Best Local Food Retailer, Cook of The Year (for public caterers including dinner ladies and men), Countryfile’s Farming Hero Award, and a new BBC Future Food award to find the best new idea in the UK food supply chain.

Also, for the first time, The One Show will be leading the search for the Best Takeaway/Street food in the country. 

BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson is searching for the UK’s unsung countryside heroes – people who deserve recognition for going that extra mile. They could be a farmer, or farming family, who have helped others in times of crisis. Or they could someone who is simply an inspiration and makes us all proud. It doesn’t have to be a farmer, it could be someone who has contributed to British agriculture or helped to support the people who work in it. 

The award is part of the 2016 BBC Food and Farming Awards and Adam will be one of the judges. The winner will be announced at the Bristol Food Connections festival and will appear on Countryfile in May.

Once the judges have selected a shortlist for each of the categories, they will visit each finalist in person. Winners will be announced at the BBC Food & Farming Awards ceremony in Bristol on Thursday 28 April. 

Chef, food writer and restaurateur, Yotam Ottolenghi leads the search for the best of British food, drink and farming in the 16th BBC Food & Farming Awards.

Joining Yotam Ottolenghi, and the BBC, in a mission to find the cream of British food and farming are some of the most respected experts on food and drink in the UK – including Angela Hartnett, Diana Henry, Allegra McEvedy, Stefan Gates and Charlotte Smith.

BBC Food & Farming Awards Judge, Yotam Ottolenghi said, “This is my first year judging the BBC Food & Farming Awards and I can’t wait to see where the nominations take me.

"There’s so much happening throughout the UK and I think the really exciting ideas aren’t to be found at top end restaurants anymore, they’re in the trucks serving street food and in the food markets at the heart of many towns and cities…  From cheesemakers to school cooks, brewers to bakers, we don’t give enough recognition and thanks to the people who produce our food and drink.  These awards give us all a chance to not only say thanks, but also celebrate their work.”