Foodlink News
Foodlink Launches Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Map at Kitchener Market May 18
Where can you find delicious fresh produce along with a full array of local meats, preserves, grains and dairy products? It’s all right here in Waterloo Region! And Foodlink’s Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map shows you where to find it. The map is part of a larger campaign that engages the community in an exploration of available local food and creates a connection to our farm roots through a variety of exciting projects and events. This includes Taste Local! Taste Fresh!, the Region’s premiere culinary showcase which celebrates a 10th Anniversary this year and takes place in a brand new location—Steckle Heritage Farm on September 15.
To kick off the season and their 2013 Campaign, Foodlink will be launching the much-anticipated Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map. Now in its twelfth edition, the handy year-round guide makes it easier than ever to buy and eat fresh, healthy local food in Waterloo Region and environs. The annual publication directs people to 70 local farms as well as farmers markets and other businesses that produce and sell local foods.
Foodlink invites members of the public to attend the launch of its 2013 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map which will take place at the Kitchener Market on Saturday, May 18, as a part of Food Revolution Day, 10-3pm. There will be display set up on the upper level and free copies of the new map will be available from representatives of Foodlink throughout the morning. Special features include family friendly games, Farm Vlog tours and a variety of other activities related to local food, healthy eating and fitness. Why not be among the first to get your copy of Foodlink’s Buy Local map and pick up some great local food at the same time!
Each year the launch takes place in a different location. “This year we chose the Kitchener Market because there is a number of Buy Local! Buy Fresh! food vendors represented there and it is a venue dedicated to bringing farmers and consumers together. We are so very fortunate to have such a variety of fresh local food so close at hand, much of which is available year round at places like our local farmers’ markets,” says Anna Contini, Manager at Foodlink Waterloo Region.
Foodlink Waterloo Region is an award-winning non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to creating a healthy local food system. The group is made up of farms, food processors, distributors, retailers, restaurants and other community stakeholders. Foodlink has been making the local food connection in Waterloo Region since 2002. Buy Local! Buy Fresh! programs have been made possible in 12 counties in Ontario as well as Newfoundland and BC thanks to Foodlink’s expertise and resources. For more information about Foodlink’s programs and services please visit www.foodlink.ca, follow Foodlink on Twitter @FoodlinkBLBF, or join them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FoodlinkWaterlooRegion
Copies of the new 2013 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Map are free and will be available at all public libraries across the Region, as well as selected food retailers, restaurants, markets and other local businesses.
11th Annual Buy Local Map and New Local Food App:
To kick off the season Foodlink will be launching the much-anticipated Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map, a handy year-round guide directing people to over 70 local farms as well as farmers markets and other businesses that produce and sell local foods. Now in its 11th edition, the map makes it easier than ever to buy and eat fresh, healthy local food in Waterloo Region and environs.
Foodlink invites members of the public to attend the launch of its 2012 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map which will take place at the Elmira Farmers’ Market on Saturday, May 26, 10am-noon. Free copies of the map will be available from representatives of Foodlink throughout the morning. Be among the first to get your copy, and pick up some great local food at the same time!
Each year the launch takes place in a different location. “This time we chose the Elmira Farmers Market not only because they are celebrating their milestone 10-Year Anniversary, but also because of their authenticity—without exception, everything is grown or produced by locals, “, says Anna Contini, Manager of Foodlink. The outdoor market features a range of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, preserves, maple syrup and home baked goods. Located behind the Elmira Home Hardware on Church Street, it runs every Saturday morning from May to October.
Foodlink has another exciting launch also taking place this spring. As an extension of its paper map and on-line local food finder, Foodlink has recently developed a free App download for handheld devices offering instant access to local food sources. This innovative tool will interface with Foodlink’s existing database providing “live” up-to-date information, as well as directions to farms, markets and retail outlets using GPS mapping technology and Google maps API integration. Members of the community are invited to the official launch of the new Local Food App on Wednesday, May 23, 5-7pm at Communitech in the Tannery Building, 151 Charles St. W., Kitchener.
Foodlink’s Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map and new mobile App are part of a larger campaign made up of events and initiatives that champion local food and local farms. This includes Taste Local! Taste Fresh!, the Region’s premiere culinary showcase which will take place in St. Jacobs September 16. Foodlink also hosts a comprehensive website, which combines extensive food information with the province’s most advanced local food mapping technology. Amongst the roster of web offerings are a local food finder, a local food blog, farm profiles, on-line newsletters and local food recipes. This fall Foodlink will also have a presence at the International Plowing Match showcasing Buy Local! Buy Fresh farms and businesses.
Foodlink Waterloo Region is an award-winning non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to creating a healthy local food system. The group is made up of farms, food processors, distributors, retailers, restaurants and other community stakeholders. Foodlink has been making the local food connection in Waterloo Region since 2002. Thanks to Foodlink’s expertise and resources, Buy Local! Buy Fresh! programs have been made possible in 12 counties in Ontario, as well as BC and Newfoundland.
Copies of the new 2012 Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Map are free and available at all public libraries across the Region, as well as selected food retailers, restaurants, markets and other local businesses. To download the free App, go to: http://www.foodlink.ca/app
