All in Flavour of Local Food with the Huron Food Action Network

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Author: Jenn Kucharczyk

Posted: July 18, 2014

Categories: GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Members

Guest post by Elizabeth Higgins. Photography by @HuronFoodAction.

On Wednesday, June 25th, the Huron Food Action Network (HFAN) hosted a community event celebrating the diversity of the local food market in Huron County. The HFAN is a volunteer-based community-driven network working together to support a sustainable food system. The group aims to bring individuals together around food and to provide safe, local, nutritious foods to all.

HFAN local food red cat bread HFAN local fresh strawberries HFAN local truly local tarts

The event turned out a great success, with about 80 community members in attendance. Food producers, processors, consumers, health educators, and business owners came together to join the conversation over some of Huron County’s culinary delights. Guest speakers at the event included owners of Red Cat Bakery (Goderich), Everspring Farms (Seaforth), Coastal Coffee Company (Zurich), and Firmly Rooted Farm (Clinton). Chef Mathew McIntyre of Truly Local provided appetizers combining locally sourced ingredients- featuring turkey sliders, organic salad cups, lamb kebobs, and rhubarb tarts.

HFAN event attendeesHighlights from the evening include a discussion over the future of our food. Speakers addressed the importance for consumers to develop a relationship with their food and know the story behind it. For some, this means learning how to plant, grow, cook, and preserve our own food. For others, it means getting to know local producers. Dale Donaldson of Everspring Farms suggests that “we’re experiencing a cultural shift in the attitude people have toward their food. People want food they can appreciate and relate to… they want food with integrity”. With this thought in mind, the HFAN will continue working toward the improvement of local food access for the residents of Huron County and beyond.

The HFAN group includes various working groups- focused on food education, food policy, community gardens, and local food distribution. Current initiatives include developing a seed library, creating a food charter, hosting various food related workshops, and partnering with neighbouring counties to advance local food distribution plans. For more information or to get involved with the HFAN, please contact huronfoodactionnetwork@gmail.com.

The Huron Food Action Network is a member of Sustain Ontario.