Food for Thought – Growing, Sharing + Eating Local Food

Fair Food Movie Night and Fair Food Forum Geelong August 20th + 22nd  Accessing fresh locally grown quality food should be a right for any person, yet in recent years access to fresh local foods in our stores have decreased with the increase in many imported foods in our supermarkets. At times fast food can appear like a cheaper and easier option. Yet the flavour and taste found in sustainably grown heritage fruit and vegetables and sustainably produced meats, preserves and other staple foods mean that simpler meals can be enjoyed that often taste better and are healthier than complex fast foods.

The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) was established in 2010 as the voice for the small farmer, market gardener, small food business people supporting Australian agriculture, community-based social enterprise supplying healthy local food at an affordable price, and locals who support our nation’s farmers and regional food economies with food grown, processed and distributed sustainably and justly.

The People’s Food Plan compiled by the AFSA was the result of contributions from more than 40 open forums and 600 individuals nationally and presents a common sense and achievable vision for fair food that places the soil and land, farmers, food workers and eaters at the center of a restorative food system.

A national survey carried out in November 2012 by the Australia Institute asked respondents what top two measures the country should adopt to guarantee food security. 86% nominated ‘support local farmers to produce more’ in their top two choices, and 63% said ‘protect our best farmlands from other uses, such as housing and mining. Only 5% said ‘import more of our basic food requirements’; yet a greater reliance on imports is what the current system is achieving.

On August 19-25 the inaugural Fair Food Week will be held with more than 100 events around Australia supporting regional and sustainable food systems. With two events in Geelong supporting regional food industries, there is an opportunity to learn about regional  challenges and innovations.

The Fair Food Movie Night on Tuesday 20^th 6pm at Beav’s Bar Geelong will provide an opportunity for people from around the region to come together to watch a range of short films on community gardens edible townships, and sustainable farming, followed by drinks and the opportunity to chat with like-minded foodies.

Following the movie night, there will be a Fair Food Forum held at Deakin University on Thursday 22^nd August featuring four local food innovators. Our guest speakers will each present on their food passion and expertise, followed by a Q&A session for an evening of regional food ideas. Our speakers are sustainable farmer Hayden Findlay of Ravens Creek Farm, nature’s grade produce distributor Katy Barfield of Spade and Barrow, social food entrepreneur Katie Drummond – Gillett of FoodSkil, and chef and native plant forager Amanda Garner Director of The Australian Native Foods Industry and Chef at Sorella Foods, Birregurra.

The Fair Food Movie Night and the Fair Food Forum are organized by Innate Ecology, supported by Future Proofing Geelong and hosted by Beav’s Bar and Deakin University. Innate Ecology is a local business specializing in sustainable design, research and business advise.