Waitrose and the Taste Of Cornwall have unveiled plans to build a shared shopping complex to showcase Cornish food and drink. The proposed 50,000 sq ft Cornish Food Hall will be built near Falmouth and the floorspace will be split 50-50 between a food hall selling Cornish produce and a Waitrose food shop. Elsewhere on the 70 acre site a demonstration farm, to help visitors understand how food is produced, and a range of starter units for use by Cornish food producers and processors will be built. The site may also include a test kitchen, and a trade hall where farmers will meet buyers, and advisors will give consumers guidance on sustainable food purchasing. Taste of Cornwall founder Elwyn Jones said: "We want to do something to give Cornish food and drink producers a chance to compete on a more even playing field. "This will allow producers who do not have the capacity to supply a national store network to get their products into the marketplace." Waitrose director of development and services Nigel Burton said: "The future of British food depends on long-term, positive contact between supplier and retailer. "This unique initiative will allow us to work proactively with the county's food producers to bring more quality and choice to the people of Cornwall." A full planning application will be submitted in the early autumn after a public consultation with local people. If the scheme receives consent, it plans to open in 2005 and anticipates 25,000 visitors per week. {{NEWS }}

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