Educating our children about food has been high on the agenda ever since celebrity chef Jamie Oliver exposed the poor quality of school meals and took it upon himself to revolutionise the country's school meals service. Now, it seems, Yorkshire is doing its own bit when it comes to promoting quality food.

The Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber, which is funded by Yorkshire Forward and Food From Britain, has published a glossy booklet promoting more than 200 local food and drink producers in the county.

And Yorkshire celebrity chef Brian Turner, who has backed the publication of the booklet, believes that telling our children about the value and benefits of local produce is essential for the future of these businesses.

The timing of the booklet is interesting, given that it has been published in a week when the question of the power of the major supermarket chains has been called into question by MPs.

Of course, in today's world, there is no doubt that supermarkets have their place.

But the survival of smaller-scale and local food businesses is essential. They offer us variety, expertise and a way of supporting and sustaining our local communities. They are among the many things which give our region its unique identity and we should be proud to shout about what they have to offer.

Let's hope that the Regional Food Group can follow-up this excellent project and use every means to help businesses such as those highlighted continue to thrive at the heart of their communities and as part of our heritage.