Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation hosts "Farms to Cafeterias" at Tapestry Bistro
The foundation hosted a tasty little reception last week not just to celebrate Ontario Greenbelt-grown food, but to talk to key decision-makers about why local food procurement is something that our city should bite into.
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Burkhard Mausberg, President of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation acted as the master of ceremonies that afternoon. Ward 14 Councillor Robert Pasuta was on hand to introduce Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who spoke of the importance of local purchasing by municipalities -- particularly when it comes to food. Local food dynamo, former CBC Journalist, and author Lori Stahlbrand leads the way in Ontario as President of Local Food Plus (LFP), and organization dedicated to promoting local food that is also ethical and sustainable through its certification and guidance, which is targeted to large food purchasers and the farms that wish to supply them. Last but certainly not least, Dr. Lynda Lukasik, Executive Director of Environment Hamilton spoke about her organization's successful record of increasing public awareness of these issues, as well as noting the work of Hamilton Eat Local in helping people take the next step: getting their hands on the region's agricultural goodies!
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Speakers cited local economic benefits, green jobs, fresher and healthier food, and the resilience of our local food supply as being just some of the reasons why it pays to ensure that our local institutions of learning use their enormous purchasing power to support our community -- and that includes farms.
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The event took place at one of Hamilton Eat Local's favourite locavore establishments, Tapestry Bistro. Chef Sam Robertson served up a delicious and creative range of fresh and healthy appetizers and snacks -- well, as long as you went easy on the lovely homemade strawberry custard tarts....which was very, very difficult!
Guest such as Ward 2 Councillor Brian McHattie, representatives of both the Hamilton District Public School Board and the Hamilton Catholic District School Board, food services staff from Redeemer University College, Liz Millar of Hamilton Partners in Nutrition (HPIN), Vicki Edwards of City of Hamilton Public Health and the Community Food Security Stakeholders Committee (CFSSC), representatives of Peel Region's eco-school pros EcoSource, McMaster campus food activists, the Hamilton Wentworth Federation of Agriculture (HWFA), Chris Krucker and Denise Trigatti of ManoRun Farm and many others enjoyed the good eats and the good news about the many benefits of local food to 'student bodies'. Thank you very much to all who attended, as Hamilton Eat Local continues to help the cause in any way that it can.
Photos courtesy of Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
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