THE great and the good of the food world will be descending on Oxford later this month to share the limelight with local producers.

Oxford Castle’s Food and Wine Festival will give the city a chance to flex its taste buds in the company of chef Raymond Blanc, broadcaster Susy Atkins and author Vanessa Kimbell.

Raymond Blanc, who runs Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton, will open the festival.

He said: “Food connects with each part of our life; family, society, health, environment. It is harvest time and we are reaping the rewards of what we have sown. It is marvellous to see that food is such a celebration."

More than 10,000 people are expected to descend on the castle on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18, to learn the kitchen secrets of local producers.

East Oxford’s Caroline Wood, 39, is one of those producers. Her Good Biscuit Company makes home-made biscuits using healthy ingredients.

She said: “It’s very difficult for local producers to find places to sell your goods when you are starting out.

“A big one-off opportunity like this means people can be choosy about their food and find out that companies like mine exist. Oxfordshire has a huge amount of local produce on offer and this makes it easier for people to find out about us all in one place.”

Now in its second year, the festival will feature more than 77 exhibitors.

Jonathan Luker founded Samuelson’s lemonade in Witney 13 months ago when he lost his job in IT.

He said: “I set up the company with only a little money saved for a conservatory.

“It was always going to be tough, but there was a belief that customers would willingly pay a little more for something really special.

“We follow a very simple rule when making our products: If it can't be made in a kitchen at home then we want to avoid making it.

“This festival is a great chance for us to put our name in the spotlight.” Mr Luker now supplies his lemonade to dozens of businesses.

Festival director Sarah Mayhew said: “We are delighted that the festival is growing in size and are very proud to be giving a chance for small Oxfordshire producers to showcase their goods.”

Entry is free and it is open between 10am and 5pm.