MALTON’S Monthly Food Market has made it to the next round of the BBC Food and Farming Awards.

The market, which takes place every second Saturday from March to December, will represent North Yorkshire in the Best Food Market category for the next round of judging, with the winners announced on Thursday, April 30.

Market director Tom Naylor-Leyland said: “This is fantastic news. It is part of the fabric of Malton, a proper market town with its market square and community spirit.

Judges on this year’s Food and Farming panel include food critic Charles Campion, chef Angela Hartnett, broadcaster Adam Henson and food writer Tim Hayward.

The BBC Food and Farming awards are the longest-running awards of their kind in the UK and were established 15 years ago.

This month’s food market will have a taste of south America when it returns on Saturday, March 14. The market coincides with the fourth annual Yorkshire Cajun and Zydeco Festival, which takes place in the Milton Rooms.

New stallholders will join many returning favourites, including the award-winning Tarte and Berry Artisan Cakes and Desserts, created by sister team Jane and Lucy Batham, from York.

Jane said: “We are very much looking forward to the market, particularly as we visited the annual Food Lovers Festival last year. We were very impressed by the array of stalls and vast foodie knowledge. We instantly knew we wanted to be part of this.”

Among the new stalls will be Southern American food specialists Smokin’ Blues, who will join Cajun-inspired chefs Sue Cummins and Janice Appleton.

The Cajun festival, which starts on March 13, is recognised across the UK and Europe as one of the leading ones of its kind outside the US. It will feature music and dancing with a Mardi Gras-theme, including a parade through the Market Place during the market.