The National Farmers' Union has launched a nationwide campaign to reconnect the public with the countryside.

The campaign, "C/O British Farming", was launched for the region at the Tesco supermarket in Tadcaster Road, York.

National Farmers' Union (NFU) county chairman Rosey Dunn said: "This is all about trying to promote what a good job we do, trying to show people a good news story.

"Sometimes the public doesn't realise that we are farming and producing food, but at the same time looking after the countryside, and we want to encourage the people to come to the countryside and see it for themselves."

Richard Ellison, NFU regional director, said: "We chose Tesco's because this is where the people are, this is where our customers come to shop."

Mr Ellison said: "You won't find this scheme in the countryside, we will visit the seaside, fun parks, and in the cities.

"People in the countryside know about the job we do, now it is time for the rest to find out."

The campaign was launched as a survey showed nearly nine out of ten people have no family connection with farming and less than one in ten know that British farmers produce most of the food in Britain.

Updated: 10:36 Tuesday, April 15, 2003