London Development Agency
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Delicious events boost good food across London
Londoners are set to reap the benefits of healthy and local food thanks to more than forty good food events currently being held across the capital. The events and projects are funded by the London Development Agency’s London Food Small Grants for Sustainable Food for London and are managed by the capital’s leading organisation working for sustainable food, London Food Link.
Projects funded by the scheme will reach Londoners where they live, work and play. Events include small, community harvest-time celebrations, sustainable seafood training for foodservice professionals and meet-the-producer exhibitions hosted by some of London’s award-winning and green-minded food businesses.
The grant programme, devised as part of London’s Food Strategy, helps Londoners host local events that communicate the importance of issues such as healthy eating and buying seasonal, local, Fairtrade and organic food.
Rosie Boycott, recently appointed Chair of London Food said:
"These ‘good food’ events are exactly what we need across London to support and encourage the production, sale, and consumption of locally produced, top quality food. Good quality food doesn’t need to be expensive or exclusive and these educative events remind Londoners where food is sourced from, how to grow it and its impact on their health"
Ben Reynolds, Director of London Food Link, said:
"We are really excited about the range and quality of events that have been supported through the two rounds of this funding programme. Through these grants, answers about the hows and whys of sustainable food will reach thousands of Londoners and visitors to the city."
One event that has already taken place thanks to the Small Grants for Sustainable Food programme was ‘Delicious Dalston’ in Gillet Square. This one-day event showcased the best of London's sustainable produce, with related exhibits about healthy eating and the environmental impact of food choices.
Emma Jones from organisers of the event, Hackney Co-operative Developments, said:
"There was a really good atmosphere and a continuous flow of people who seemed to be totally engrossed by the fresh food and live music. The traders who were selling food to eat on the spot did the best business and are really positive about the experience." She goes on to say that "overall, this has been a very valuable process for the development of future food-related events on the square. There is a tremendous interest in this for a wide variety of local businesses and traders who clearly see the opportunities of trading in the square on a more regular basis."
All of the events will be showcased online on London Food Link’s food events calendar, which features regular sustainable food events in London, such as weekly farmers’ markets, as well as highlighting special one-off events such as those funded by the small grants scheme.
For details of events taking place near you please visit http://www.sustainweb.org/lflevents/.
For images and other press enquiries please call Ben Reynolds at London Food Link on 07939 202 711 or 020 7837 1228 or Katy Atkins at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8386; for public enquiries, please call 020 7593 9000; for out of hours media enquiries, please call 07977 439 371. Notes to Editors London Food is an expert committee reflecting the complexity of London’s food system, and aims to improve the health of Londoners and make London's food system sustainable over the ten years to 2016. London Food is coordinated and funded by the London Development Agency. The London Development Agency aims to improve the quality of life for all Londoners - working to create jobs, develop skills and promote economic growth. London Food Link is part of the charity Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming. We exist to create a more sustainable food system for London, and run a number of networks for the food sector, including Ethical Eats, a network of restaurants and caterers who are interested in local and sustainable food.
