Clive Beddall Britain's five regional speciality food groups face an uncertain future unless they win more long-term cash support from the government. And they have urged the Commission on the Future of Farming and Food to back their calls to prime minister Tony Blair for additional funding. Amid calls from high profile figures for retailers to source locally, the suppliers have made it plain to the commission that they can only deliver if they receive additional long- term cash from Westminster. And at the Food from Britain and HSBC Food and Drink Export Awards in London on Wednesday, FFB chairman Gordon Summerfield publicly supported their bid with a strong appeal to the government. Along with a string of public figures, including Prince Charles, who are backing the regional suppliers' cause, he told guest speaker Lord Whitty, the food and farming minister: "The groups need more core funding to continue their good work, so they can plan their lives on a cycle beyond one year." As reported in The Grocer on August 11, the groups, many of whose members were hit by the foot and mouth crisis, have already received £1.7m from the £3m FMD battle fund awarded to FFB by DEFRA. Summerfield reminded 300 guests at this week's awards ceremony, held in association with The Grocer, that, working closely with FFB, the regional groups promoted the "wonderful rich diversity" of British speciality food and drink. Representatives of the five groups have also held detailed discussions with Sir Don Curry's team about the challenges faced in meeting major customers' distribution arrangements. And while they hope next month's commission report will make "serious recommendations", privately, producers fear their pleas will be "lost in the barrage of cries for government help for the food chain". Karen Davies, director of one of the five ­ Heart of England Fine Foods ­ told The Grocer: "We received additional cash support through FFB after foot and mouth, but that is only short-term. We want to play a more strategic role in the regions, and that means more support from government." The groups include A Taste of the South East,Taste of the West, Heart of England Fine Foods, North West Fine Foods and Tastes of Anglia. {{NEWS }}