At the 2008 Festival, there will be a focus on food: local, organic and fair trade in particular.
At the Festival opening ceremonies at 12 noon on Thursday, July 10 in Old Market Square, the Festival will sign the Manitoba Food Charter.
The Manitoba Food Charter is both a document and an organization. The Charter itself is a publicly-owned, one page statement about what Manitobans think our food system should look like. It emerged from input elicited in over 70 community consultations with stakeholder groups and concerned citizens. The document brings together a diversity of voices in a common focus for food security in our province.
The Manitoba Food Charter Inc. organizational goal is to increase food security and sustainability of the food systems in Manitoba by providing a common focus for action for food system stakeholders - through Public Education and Awareness; Developing Networks and Partnerships; and through building Organizational Capacity. MFC funding is provided by PHAC, Rural Secretariat, and Heifer International.
The Festival will also be featuring local (L) (produced in Manitoba), certified organic (O) and fair trade food (FT) this summer: “LOFT” ingredients. LOFT ingredients are identified by the food vendors, and LOFT icons in the program book menu will indicate which menu items have local, organic or fair trade ingredients.
Plus, look for compostable beer cups in the taverns and compostable spoons and cups at the Festival ice cream booth, The Scoop.
Backstage, at least 20% of the food served in the backstage kitchen will be from Manitoba producers.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for your focus on food. I am working in the Hand Hade Village during the festival and although I was impressed to see a variety of healthy food venues at last year’s festival ( far superiour to most festivals)one of my biggest concerns was what will I eat this year, since unlike last year I won’t be able to head back to my camping area and prepare my own snacks. Focusing on organic, fair trade, local food, and compostable utensils etc. is a perfect compliment to the flavour of the festival. It is such a healthy environment and certianly what we eat on this wonderful weekend of music and fellowship should never be ignored.
Deb