By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – If you’re going to take a bite out of Cornwall and SDG, what better place to whet your appetite than the Long Sault Farmers’ Market?
Organizers of the inaugural Local Food Challenge gathered at South Stormont’s fresh food hub to launch the 10-day event on Friday (August 14), which runs until the next Sunday (August 23).
More than 180 residents of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, Prescott-Russell, and Cornwall have already accepted the social media and community challenge, according to Kat Rendek, of All Things Food, one of the non-profits spearheading the event.
“We wanted to create a fun opportunity for people to engage with their local food community,” she said. “There are so many wonderful vendors, restaurants, and producers in this region worth celebrating.”
Cornwall City Councillors Bernadette Clement, Carilyne Hebert, and Justin Towndale have also accepted the challenge.
The politicians also purchased several bags of fresh, locally grown produce and meats while at the Long Sault Farmer’s Market, stocking up for their trip to the 2015 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) AGM & Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, from Sunday, August 16 to Wednesday, August 19.
“It’s important to support local farmers and growing up my parents always had a garden. Having food grown close to home is something I’m very familiar with,” said Towndale.
He has always liked to eat fresh and local as much as possible. Growing up, Towndale ate from his parents’ garden, and even when he lived in Toronto he frequented the St. Lawrence Market.
“For me having food grown close to home is something I’ve always been very familiar with,” he said.
South Stormont Councillor and Long Sault Farmers’ Market founder and current manager Donna Primeau was also in attendance at the event launch.
Primeau says the farmers’ market is important for its social aspect and because it brings healthy food to families.
“It’s awesome to have farm-fresh food on my kitchen table, brought to me right here in South Stormont,” she said.
Local Food Challenge organizers include, All Things Food, Transition Cornwall +, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, the Eastern Ontario Agri-food Network, Growing Up Organic, Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie, Seaway Valley Community Health Centre, and Kozroots Community Empowerment Projects.
To take part in the Local Food Challenge, register free at: www.sdgprlocalfoodchallenge.com.
Participants can track their daily consumption of local food during the ten-day period on the log sheet provided, access the PR-SD&G Local Food Map, be eligible for daily prizes, will receive tips for enjoying the season’s harvest, and are encouraged to share their experiences across social media using #eatSDGPR.
