The 2010 South Gloucestershire Local Food & Drink Festival kick starts this year on Saturday 2nd October with 'Trading Local' - theatre in shops in High Street and Broad Street, Staple Hill performed by Bedminster-based Show of Strength Theatre Company. This series of 5-minute monologues will focus on the food and drink outlets and start at 10am with the last event being 4.20pm. The 2010 festival takes place between 1-17 October this year. To view the full programme, go to the 'read more' section to the right of this page.
Those new to the festival include Chipping Sodbury Food Festival (Sat 9th October); Perry Pear Day at Dyrham Park on Sat 16 October; Autumn Apple Bake and Orchard Conservation.
The film 'Food Inc.' is being screened for free in the Cossham Hall, Thornbury at 7pm on Saturday 2nd October and afterwards a panel chaired by Richard Spalding, Chair of the Local Food Partnership will lead an open discussion.
Buying locally produced and seasonal food is great for the local economy, the environment and for your health. It reduces food miles and packaging waste, the food is often fresher and cheaper - and people can become reconnected with where and how their food is produced.
The council is supporting local farmers by co-ordinating a local food partnership. The partnership has representation from a range of individuals and organisations including local producers, the National Farmers Union, South Gloucestershire Council, South Gloucestershire PCT, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), SWAN (South West Acre Network), Avon Country Markets, farmers' markets and UWE. The partnership meets regularly and is responsible for a range of work including:
- The Local Food Directory - a list of local outlets where people can buy locally produced food and drink
- The Local Food Strategy - the document which outlines the aims and objectives of the partnership's work
- The Local Food and Drink Festival – a celebration of local food and drink held in October including a range of open, free events to promote the availability of local food
The Local Food Directory (updated in 2008), a report from the 2009 local food festival can be found in the 'Read more' section on the right-hand side of this page.
A link to the Local Food Website (under 'Other websites' - also on the right-hand side of page) provides further information and a map showing where you nearest local producer is.