World Food Day 2010

This Upcoming Saturday, October 16th, is World Food Day! There are events happening all across the province to celebrate this day - from St. John's to Norris Point to Hopedale! Read on to find out more.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations celebrates World Food Day each year on October 16th, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945. The objectives of World Food Day include drawing attention to agricultural food production and heightening public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world. This year's theme is "United Against Hunger".

1. St. John's - Second Annual World Food Day Movie & Meal!

When: Friday, October 15th
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Gower St. United Church, 99 Queens Rd, St. John's
Admission: Suggested donation of $15, tickets available at Food for Thought (382 Duckworth Street)

FSN, OXFAM, FEASt, and Slow Food warmly welcome you to attend a movie and meal in acknowledgement of World Food Day 2010 and in support of Hurricane Igor relief efforts.

• Enjoy a locally-sourced meal designed by Chef Michelle LeBlanc of the new St. John's restaurant Chinched!
• Watch FOOD FIGHT, a documentary that inspires viewers to become more engaged in what they eat.

Limited seating is available, Please call Rick at 237.4026 to reserve seats. All Monies Raised will Support Community Food Projects Responding to Hurricane Igor. To volunteer for the event serving and preparing food, please email sarahferber@foodsecuritynews.com.

2. Norris Point World Food Day Film Screening and Open Discussion

When: Friday, October 15th
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Where: Julia Ann Walsh Heritage Centre, Norris Point
Admission: $5.00 (all proceeds going to the Norris Point Community Garden)

Come enjoy a screening of the documentary Food Fight followed by an open discussion on local food production.

There will also be information available on the Norris Point community garden and food nutrition (from Western Health and the Food Security Network of NL), and FREE tea, coffee, and healthy snacks.

For more info please contact: Corinne Brett, Community Garden Coordinator Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation, 709-458-3072

3. Corner Brook - West Coast Farmers' Market

When: Saturday, October 16th
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (The market is from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Where: The Majestic Lawn, Corner Brook

The Western Environment Centre will be preparing food from items purchased at the market on October 16th. Food will be prepared and served at the market between 11:00 and 1:00 at the gazebo on the Majestic Lawn.

For more information contact Carolyn Wheeler, Project Coordinator, Western Environment Centre, (709) 634-9470

4. Stephenville Community Market World Food Day Event

When: Saturday, October 16th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Lions Building, Woodland Avenue, Stephenville

Highlights of the World Food Day Event being held from 10am to 2:30 pm this Saturday include:

• Films about food security and other World Food Day issues presented by the College of the North Atlantic Journalism Students
• Digital Slide Show and Information regarding Local Community Gardens
• Food Bank Booth for food and/or financial donations
• Local Food Produce available for purchase and much more...

For further information please contact Maryann Lainey, Market Coordinator, (709) 643-2795, or Bob Diamond, Chair Market Committee, (709) 643-6362.

5. Hopedale World Food Day Community Meal

When: Thursday, October 14th
Where: Hopedale

Community organizations will be serving a healthy dish featuring local and traditional food to the people of Hopedale.

For more information please contact Christine Vincent at christine_vincent@nunatsiavut.com.

6. Happy Valley-Goose Bay World Food Day 2010 - United Against Hunger

When: Saturday, October 16th
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Where: Labrador Friendship Centre, 49 Grenfell St.,

This year over one billion people are hungry and malnourished. Learn what you can do to help and raise awareness. Featuring mini-workshops in gardening, composting, and nutritious food preparation, and a short film on food justice.

For more information contact Jill Airhart, Project Coordinator, FSN, at jairhart@foodsecuritynews.com.

7. Labrador West World Food Day 2010

When: Saturday, October 16th
Where: Labrador City Mall, 500 Vanier Ave.

Come visit the World Food Day Labrador West Food Security Working Group booth at the Labrador City Mall on Saturday. Featuring:

• Informational brochures
• Surveys about food security issues in Labrador West (complete to enter your name for a prize draw!)
• Free healthy snacks

For more information contact Samantha Bennett, Project Coordinator, FSN, sam_bennett17@hotmail.com, (709) 282-4892

More Harvest Events!

The provincial Harvest Celebration last weekend was a great success! But that certainly doesn't mean that the agricultural community is taking a break now. Producers, farmer's markets and community gardens province-wide are bustling with their harvests, and fall fair organizers are busy putting together many more events. This coming week is absolutely hopping with harvest celebrations! Below is information on what's going on in Stephenville, Harbour Grace, and Torbay. And like we mentioned in the last post, there's a schedule of events from Agrifoods that can keep you up to speed on where to go for your local food celebrations in October too!

Stephenville Community Market Harvest Day Festival

September 25th

The Community Market and Garden at the Lions Club site on Woodland Street, Stephenville, will be the location of a Harvest Day Festival being celebrated this Saturday, September 25^th.

Highlights of the day's scheduled activities include:

• Over thirty vendors selling a variety of items from a new crop of fresh locally grown vegetables to crafts, baked goods and new to you items.
• A presentation and demonstration from 11am to 12:30 pm on “Safe Food Preservation – Bottling, Canning” by Carolyn Wheeler with the Western Environment Centre.
• Fresh, Local Corn Boil
• Children's Activities from 1pm to 3pm including face painting, mascot visits, games, prizes
• Local Band “Empty Threat” will be playing from 2pm to 3:30 pm
• A Jigs Dinner starting at 5:30 pm followed by an evening dance beginning at 8:30pm. The ingredients for the jigs dinner will be all local farm produce. The “Kippers”, a local musical group, will be performing during the dinner. The recorded music for the dance will be by D.J. Bill Barry.

Admission is free for the Harvest Day Festival Activities with the exception of the dinner and dance for which there is an admission charge of $12 per person. There is a $5 admission for those wishing to attend only the dance. Tickets may be picked up at the Lions Club from Wednesday to Friday or from members of the Market Committee.

The Stephenville Food Bank will have a booth at the festival and the general public are asked to bring along donations of non-perishable food items.

For further information please contact Mary-Ann Lainey, Market Coordinator, ph. (709) 643-2795, or Bob Diamond, Market Committee Chair ph. 709 643-6362

Harbour Grace 52nd Trinity-Conception Agriculture, Homecrafts Fall Fair and Miss Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant

September 23rd-26th

SW Moores Memorial Stadium, Harbour Grace.

Featuring Aerial Trapeze Acts, School Tours, Vegetable Bus, Local Artwork, Let's Make a Deal, Games of Chance, Giant Parade, Seniors' Day, Petting Farm, Face Painting, Live Entertainment, Magic Show and...

September 21-26 Thomas Amusements. Sponsored by the Trinity- Conception Fair.

September 23-26 Produce & Preserves Events. For more information call 596 6201

September 23rd Grade 5 Agricultural Spelling Bee. 7:30pm Call 945-3007 for additional information

September 24th Miss Teen Trinity Conception Pageant – Doors open at 6:30pm

September 25th Hypnotist Gary Summers. Doors open at 6:30pm

September 25th and 26th 52nd Miss Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant. For information call 596-0506

September 26th Trinity- Conception Fair Baby Contest. 1:30pm Ages 1-2 1/2 years and Prince and Princess 3:00pm Ages 2 ½ to 4 ½ For more information: 596-6201.

Torbay Farmer’s Market

October 3rd (Please Note that the market scheduled for Sept. 26th has been cancelled due to issues following Hurricane Igor)

The Town of Torbay will be hosting its annual Torbay Farmer’s Market. Come out and enjoy the afternoon with events for the whole family, including lots of activities for children!

There is sure to be something there for everyone, from produce and baked goods to arts, crafts, clothes and so much more. There will also be some food available and free hot chocolate for everyone.

The market will be located at the Torbay Kinsmen Community Centre from 12:00pm – 4:00pm on both Sundays. Booths will be inside and outside.

For more information please contact Jeff Lawlor, Economic Development Officer, at 437-6532 ext 264 or jlawlor@town.torbay.nf.ca.

Memorial Presents: What's for dinner? Building a Healthy, Reliable Food Supply for NL

Last night three panelists discussed food security in Newfoundland and Labrador. The presentation, hosted by the Harris Centre, was webcast live. The presentations and the following discussion can now be viewed online.

From a short growing season, and limited farmland, to depleted fish stocks and high transportation costs, Newfoundland and Labrador faces plenty of challenges related to food security. These issues contribute to a host of short- and long-term problems, including lack of food availability in many rural communities, dependence on outside suppliers and some of the highest rates of diet-related chronic illness in Canada. It's time to rethink what we put on our plates. We need to put in place the networks, the relationships and the structures which allow all of us to live healthy, active and productive lives, well into our old age. This public debate addresses this global challenge by posing two questions that resonate both locally, and globally: what constitutes real 'food security'; and, what can individuals, communities and institutions do to improve access to good, healthy food for all? Kevin Morgan, professor of governance and development from the University of Cardiff, is the main presenter.

Farmers' Markets: Increasing Local Food Production & Consumption

This past weekend was an exciting one - Saturday, June 6th, 2009 marked the first Farmers' Market of the second season for the St. John's Farmers' Market, and the first Farmers' Market of the first season for the West Coast Farmers' Market in Corner Brook .

90% of the fresh vegetables available in Newfoundland & Labrador are imported, leaving only 10% produced locally. Major Wholesalers have indicated that due to this reliance on imported foods, the province would only have a 2-3 day supply of perishable vegetables in the event of a crisis that disrupted supply.

-"Wholesale & Other Opportunities in the Vegetable Industry of NL" Dept. of Natural Resources, Forestry & Agrifoods Agency

This statistic is what so many initiatives happening across the province are working towards correcting, including the recent sprout of Farmers Markets.

The St. John's Farmers' Market has only just begun its second year, and already a huge difference can be seen. The beginning of the St. John's Farmers Market in 2008 did not appear, to the untrained eye, to be much of a typical 'Farmers' Market'. The vendors consisted of craftspeople, bakers, artisans, and a couple farmers. This limited number of farmers lead to some negative attention and overall concern for the survival of a Farmers Market in the St. John's region.

Newfoundland has been pegged as "The Rock" by many and along with this there is a common belief that nothing can be grown on this "Rock" of ours, especially considering the extreme weather conditions and short growing season. With this, the notion of a Farmers Market seems to be somewhat out of reach.

First of all, despite what you may have heard, you can in fact grow food on the rock, you just may need to be a little more creative as to how you grow & selective in terms of what you grow.

Raised Beds & Bucket Gardening at the Rabbittown Community Garden

Second of all, Farmers' Markets, as evidenced by this past Saturday help encourage those farmers that are growing, raising, producing our food to produce more, and to produce what it is that people want to eat.

The first St. John's Farmers' Market in 2008 was bare in terms of local food. Now, here we are, a mere year later and the first St. John's Farmers' Market of 2009 is full of garden-fresh spring vegetables, potted herbs, and flowers, on top of delicious baked goods, hot meals, crafts, artwork, and much much more. After seeing the potential opportunity of the Farmers' Market in the 2008 season, Farmers' spent the winter months planning for the June start of the St. John's Farmers' Market 2009 season. Seedlings were started early in greenhouses, and crops were selected based upon success from the previous year.

Not only is there increased local demand and supply of fresh food in the St. John's region, there is also stimulated interest around Farmers' Markets across the province. The West Coast Farmers' Market had its' first successful market this past Saturday, June 6th with regular markets beginning on July 11th through until October 31st, and Conception Bay South is planning to start a Farmers' Market this coming August.

By working together, attending Farmers' Markets, starting Farmers' Markets, and purchasing food produced locally, we can become more engaged with our food system, and flip that statistic around.

Let's make it heard - You can Grow Food on this Rock of ours!

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For more information about the St. John's Farmers Market, visit http://stjohnsfarmersmarket.org/ or email admin@stjohnsfarmersmarket.org

For more information about the West Coast Farmers Market, visit http://wecnl.ca/Farmers_Market/Farmers_Market.html or email Corinne Hynes at info@wecnl.ca