Locavore News – Events
Posted: April 16, 2010
Categories: News from Sustain Ontario
- 2010 Ontario Institute of Agrologists Conference & AGM, April 16 & 17
- Competing Visions of the Agricultural Land Reserve in Metro Vancouver, April 22
- Eat & Drink Norfolk to celebrate Norfolk County farmers, April 23-24
- 1st Annual Culinary Challenge And Trade Show, April 25
- Walkable Local Foods: Local food buying clubs, April 27, Kitchener
- Taking Root: 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, May 17 to 19, Detroit
- 2010 National Summit on a People-Centred Economy, May 30 – June 1
- Workshop on Economics of Local Food Markets, New Jersey, June 15 & 16
- Growing Out of Hunger, July 13, BC
- Growing Power’s National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference, September 10 to 12, Milwaukee
- Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival, September 25-26, Stratford
Perspectives on good food and farming by Elbert van Donkersgoed
April 16, 2010
2010 Ontario Institute of Agrologists Conference & AGM, April 16 & 17, Niagara-on-the-Lake
The theme of the Conference, Nourishing Our Neighbours While Feeding Billions, will contribute to the current debate about local food and its role in sustainable food systems and to look at food as a global commodity. The theme has attracted an excellent group of speakers. In addition, a Friday afternoon preâ€conference tour has been organized for those who wish to arrive early to learn innovative approaches of some agricultural and environmental enterprises in the Niagara Region. Conference brochure.
***NEW***Competing Visions of the Agricultural Land Reserve in Metro Vancouver, April 22
A forum on topical issues confronting the commercial development industry: food production, housing or industry? Sponsored by the Centre for Dialogue, Planning Cities as if Food Matters, there are a limited number of seats for farmers, community groups and volunteer associations. Details Simon Fraser University website.
Eat & Drink Norfolk to celebrate Norfolk County farmers, April 23-24
The Aud, Norfolk County Fairgrounds, Simcoe (Norfolk County), Ontario. Show includes wineries, breweries, restaurants and food producers. Nibble and nosh your way around Norfolk County. Tasting tickets available. Live entertainment on stage, including the Two Fairly Fat Guys, Norfolk County’s Official Food Ambassadors. Admission $8. Details.
1st Annual Culinary Challenge And Trade Show, April 25
The Culinary Challenges are coming together very well. The Celebrity Challenge has radio personality Jason Farr (Talk 820) and managing editor Mark Cripps (The Hamilton Community Newspapers) and Linda Rourke (Cable 14) who are all friends and love nothing better than to compete and beat each other at challenges. The Grand Olympia, Stoney Creek. Details
Walkable Local Foods: Local food buying clubs, April 27, Kitchener
Want to be able to walk to pick up local foods? It is possible! Uptown Waterloo has a food buying club that makes eating local convenient and fun for its 500 members. Your neighbourhood can have one too. Come find out how to set up a local food buying club in your neighbourhood. Tuesday, April 27, 2010 ,7-9pm, KPL Main Branch, 85 Queen St N, Kitchener. Healthy Food System Series.
Taking Root: 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference, May 17 to 19, Detroit
Farm to Cafeteria programs are taking root in schools, hospitals, colleges, daycares, and other institutions. Come to Detroit for the 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference to learn how you can start and scale up a program in your community. Join us for trips to local farms, school lunchrooms and processing facilities; workshops on issues such as federal and state policy, experiential education, sustainability and economic development and sessions geared towards youth, producers and food service providers.Conference website.
2010 National Summit on a People-Centred Economy, May 30 – June 1
From cooperatives that have existed for more than a century, to the latest innovative social enterprises, citizen-led efforts to build a people-centred economy are rich in their history and diversity. In the face of recent economic turmoil and growing ecological crises, these approaches are more relevant than ever. The 2010 National Summit on a People-Centred Economy will be an unprecedented gathering of leaders and representatives of the community economic development, cooperative and social economy sectors to build a common agenda and mobilize action for a secure, sustainable economy that puts people and the planet first. Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian CED Network conference website.
Workshop on Economics of Local Food Markets, New Jersey, June 15 & 16
Local Food Markets is a high-visibility issue area distinguished by a number of economic and marketing questions that demand research-based answers. The goal of the workshop is to highlight current research and bring together researchers, extension educators, private sector participants, and policy makers to exchange ideas and develop a common set of priority research and education needs for local food systems. The synthesis of ideas that result from this workshop will be disseminated in a variety of relevant outlets to encourage collaboration on local foods research and extension. The format will include two thematic sessions emphasizing rural and urban local food issues. Each session will begin with a presentation by an invited speaker selected for expertise in practical or theoretical aspects of local food markets. About the workshop.
***NEW***Growing Out of Hunger, July 13, BC
Find out how this former professional basketball player, corporate sales executive and urban farmer is feeding 10,000 people and starting a community food revolution out of his inner-city farms in Milwaukee and Chicago. Winner of the $500,000 MacArthur Genius Fellowship in 2008, Will Allen is transforming the cultivation, production, and delivery of healthy foods to underserved urban populations. Details Simon Fraser University website.
Growing Power’s National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference, September 10 to 12, Milwaukee
Come to Milwaukee and help grow the good food revolution. Hosted by Growing Power—a national organization headed by the sustainable urban farmer and MacArthur Fellow Will Allen—this international conference will teach the participant how to plan, develop and grow small farms in urban and rural areas. Learn how you can grow food year-round, no matter what the climate, and how you can build markets for small farms. See how you can play a part in creating a new food system that fosters better health and more closely-knit communities. Conference website.
Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival, September 25-26, Stratford
Renowned Canadian chefs, award-winning food writers, local farmers and artisans, exclusive Ontario VQA wines, craft brews and Stratford’s musical artists invite you to come join them to celebrate glorious food. Wander farmers markets in search of edible treasures, hands-on culinary demonstrations for adults and kids, outdoor musical concerts, street carnivals, theatre and an authentic Perth County BBQ. Continue with more concerts, street carnivals, culinary demonstrations and York Street Tasting with over 30 chefs paired with 30 local producers and VQA wines for an afternoon of sampling and imbibing in tents. It all happens in Stratford’s historic downtown shopping and garden district. Details on the Savour Stratford website.
Faith and the Future of the Countryside 2010, November 3 to 5, Swanwick, Derbyshire, UK
A major ecumenical conference exploring the sustainability of rural communities and their churches, and making recommendations for their future. This event will also mark 20 years from the publication of Faith in the Countryside and the completion of the Archbishop’s Commission on Rural Areas. Four conference themes of rural communities, economy, environment and rural church reflect the breadth of issues covered in the original report. Church of England website
AND in case you have time
Restaurant’s iPhone app lets users order and pay for food
It’s become increasingly common for restaurants to let consumers order food online or even via text message. What’s still novel, however, is to see a native, customized and branded mobile application. Burrito chain Chipotle recently launched its own iPhone app, and now there’s something similar from UK chain Wagamama.