After five days of education, engagement and celebration with the public and our public officials to increase local knowledge and inspire greater food security, the Comox Valley Food Round Table (CVRT) is celebrating success and sharing thanks for all who participated.
During our first WORLD FOOD WEEK COMOX VALLEY series, held October 15 -19, an impressive array of activities was offered. More than 100 folks enjoyed a dinner at the K’omoks First Nations Band Hall based on local foods and prepared by area chefs. Over 40 learned more about foods and spices of the region of Israel/Palestine. Elected officials became more aware of the need for progressive urban agriculture and farmland access policies. Children and parents learned about the benefits of beans; movie-goers watched a documentary about the energy, passion and independence of a fresh crop of today’s young farmers. Informal and interactive cafe-style discourse was offered via Green Drinks at Union Street Grille and the 10×10 Ideas Cafe at the Zocalo. Discussions on food security were as abundant as the food that was shared that week!
As convenor of the CVFRT, I wish to extend our deep appreciation to all of our partners and donors whose contributions helped make these events possible. Sponsors of the week were: City of Courtenay, LUSH Valley Food Action Society, BC Healthy Communities, Area C Director Edwin Grieve, Comox Valley Farmers Market, Sunshine Organics, and Comox Valley Growers and Seed Savers.
Partner organizations deserving kudos for their involvement included: North Vancouver Island Chefs Association, World Community, Lake Trail Neighbourhood Connections, CV Growers & Seed Savers, North Island College Faculty Association, Mid-Islanders for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, and EatDrinkMEDIA.ca.
We would like to acknowledge the generosity of the many local businesses that made food and related donations. Hearty thanks to Heavenly Goodies, Edible Island, Tree Island Gourmet Yogurt, World Community, Butchers Block, Quality Foods/Comox, Natural Pastures Cheeses, Innisfree Farm, Big D’s Honey, Birds and Beans Farm, Eatmore Sprouts and Greens, Quality Foods/Courtenay, LUSH Valley, Gourmet Girls Global Catering, Green Drinks, and vegan chef/blogger Bryanna Clark Grogan.
CVFRT also thanks those who participated in the 10×10 IDEAS discussion held at Zocalo Cafe:
Elaine Codling, Permaculture Consultant/Educator; Vickey Brown, Comox Valley Farmers Market; Dianne McLean, Dawn to Dawn Community Garden; Arzeena Hamir and Moss Dance, Merville Organics; Nancy Hofer, Transition Town Steering Committee; Eduardo Uranga, Creating Community Agriculture; Lynda Smith – Lawn to Food; and Hans Peter Myer, EatDrinkMedia.Ca and Grain and Glass.
We were also privileged to bring former Vancouver City Councillor Peter Ladner, author of The Urban Food Revolution: Changing the Way we Feed Cities to speak to the public and at a special lunch targeted to our municipal and regional officials. He encouraged everyone to get on board, saying, “There’s so much to learn from the latest initiatives by neighbourhoods, municipalities and regions everywhere on food security and local food promotion.” Here part of his presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGxakDsbxAk
And special recognition should be made to Meaghan Cursons, and her assistant Kera McHugh, whose professional skills in event planning, outreach and promotions made this endeavor a highly visible and well attended project.
During the week and throughout October, the CVFRT also conducted a survey around food security and local priorities. Respondents weighed in heavily on three initiatives that will inform CVFRT’s work – protecting water, marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable harvesting practices; promoting urban agricultural practices through bylaw, and programming to link people interested in farming with other with farmland. The clearest mandate from the survey was the need to take leadership in forming a Food Policy Council, which over 90% of the respondents supported. This is what we intend to do.
What motivates most people to care about our food? Respondents confirm what we already know – access to fresh, healthy and affordable food is key. That means helping our community shift from processed foods shipped here from afar to locally produced, non-contaminated foods, and helping farms and food processors to be financially viable while getting products in the hands of people on all economic levels.
The WORLD FOOD WEEK was a beginning – and proved to be a valuable way to engage the Comox Valley in education and discussion about these important issues. After all, who here doesn’t eat food?
Cynthia Fitton, Executive Director
www.lushvalley.org
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