Local Food is Always in Season in Woolwich...Join in the fun at the sixth annual Taste of Woolwich!

In addition to a spectacular range of local farmers and food producers, the event features a special Youth Recipe Challenge and four informative workshops. We welcome $2 donations for adults, children attend for free.

Besides showing people about all the local food available in the area and how to access it, a key goal of A Taste of Woolwich is to illustrate the health, economic, and community-wide benefits of choosing local food.

This year, A Taste of Woolwich boasts a variety of informative and enjoyable free workshops, with something for everyone!

April 16, 5-8pm at the Breslau Mennonite Church, 226 Woolwich Street South, Breslau:

Workshop 1 – Quick & Nutritious Meals for Young Families

The first workshop of the evening invites young families to learn how to cook quick and nutritious meals, with local dietitian Robin Hicken. (5:45pm)

Workshop 2 – Local Youth Recipe Challenge Showcase

Later on, support local youth while you learn to cook with local ingredients, as Chef Ryan Terry of Flow Catering demonstrates a recipe created by a Woolwich-based Youth Group. This year, for the first time, local youth groups have been invited to get creative in the kitchen as a way of learning about the various foods that are produced right here in Woolwich Township! Participating groups are tasked with exploring where in Woolwich the ingredients for their recipes can be purchased. (6:15pm)

Workshop 3 – What Should We Pay for the Benefits of Local Food?

After the exciting Youth Recipe Showcase, attend Ellen Desjardin and Steve Martin’s informative talk about the costs associated with producing food in Canada and how this impacts the prices we pay. By the end of this workshop, we hope that people will feel more informed about why buying local food makes sense in so many ways. (6:25pm)

Workshop 4 – Learn the Art of Cooking Slow for Healthy Families on the Go

Finally, watch and learn as Libby Barrie of Barrie’s Asparagus Farm and Becky Barrie of Harvest Table Catering prepare a mouth-watering meal in the slow cooker! (7:10pm)

Many people don’t know that every job in the agriculture sector in Waterloo Region supports another four jobs. At A Taste of Woolwich, everyone will be amazed and inspired by the array of food produced right in our area and discover the benefits of buying local food. There are also plenty of opportunities to talk with local farmers and food producers, many of which are interested in exploring innovative ideas for new crops to meet the needs of our changing culinary lifestyle. For example, Stevanus Farms grows bok choy – now a staple in many people’s diets.

A Taste of Woolwich is sponsored by Region of Waterloo Public Health, Foodlink Waterloo Region and Woolwich Healthy Communities, a non-profit volunteer organization committed to making Woolwich an even better place to live; socially, economically, and environmentally. For more information, visit www.healthywoolwich.org

Look for Woolwich Healthy Communities “A Taste of Woolwich 2012” on Facebook! Share our page to help us spread the word! 

Laurie Malleau does project work for Foodlink. She likes to spend her leisure time in the company of foodie farming friends, sharing and learning about living sustainably with a focus on local food.