Two famous Yorkshire food products are closer to being recognised in the same light as champagne and Parma ham.

Defra has approved Yorkshire rhubarb growers’ application for Protected Designation of Origin status while Wensleydale Cheese is due to present its application to the Commission in a couple of weeks barring any last minute objections.

The Yorkshire rhubarb application is already in the hands of the European Commission who have a year to consider the case. Should it be approved then the next stage is six-month period for objections to come in from other rhubarb growers across Europe.

Janet Oldroyd, who is organising the campaign, expects some objections to come in from the Netherlands but the name they have applied to protect - Traditional Indoor
Grown Yorkshire Rhubarb – is hopefully specific enough to avoid too much contention.

Having given the application a brief read the intricacies, attention to detail and sheer effort the growers go to produce their rhubarb is astonishing; even the local wool manufactures have a part to play!

Currently just one Yorkshire product boasts a PDO (Swaledale cheese near Richmond) which is pretty dismal considering the rich culture of food the region boasts but if the rhubarb growers and Wensleydale makers are successful lets hope others will be encouraged to apply for the prestigious status.