Frances Rowe, One NorthEast's rural and environment manager, has been awarded a Travelling Fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

She will travel to Wisconsin, Oregon and California, where farmers' markets and food co-operatives are flourishing.

It is hoped that she will be able to develop similar projects on her return.

She said: "In terms of supporting local producers and educating people about the benefits of quality food - the US is really streets ahead and there will be many lessons to learn.

"I will be meeting with organisers of farmers' markets, retailers, co-operatives and public bodies to understand better how to develop educational programmes around food, improving the standards and professionalism of markets and strengthening local supply chains."