The Food Assembly has been named a finalist in the Best Food Initiative at the BBC Food and Farming Awards.

With more than 900 members in Chester, The Food Assembly aims to change food culture in the UK by allowing people to buy directly off farmers and local food makers.

Every week Food Assembly customers order food online from their local Assembly in Chester before picking it up at a weekly pop­-up market. All the food comes from within 100 miles of the area.

Each Assembly creates paid work for a local host. The Chester Assembly is hosted by food­ie Katie Lyttle, who hopes to share her passion with others.

Katie said: “The Food Assembly makes a huge difference because we are supporting our local community.

“We are keeping our countryside alive by choosing small scale producers, we are supporting traditions and livelihoods to thrive and we are connecting with real people.

“Take a little look around and you will find amazing local producers right on our doorstep. And do you know what? Most have a tiny impact on the environment – in fact, some are even benefiting it.”

The overall winners will be announced at a ceremony in Bristol on Thursday, April 30.