British Food Fortnight starts this weekend
There seem to be lots of events and celebrations on this weekend, the Autumn Equinox, but one which will be pleasure to observe is British Food Fortnight, 22nd September – 7th October. It started in 2002 as a response to the Foot and Mouth crisis but has gone from strength to strength since then as people realised the benefits of seasonal and regional produce – and just how much variety Britain has to offer, without using up those food miles.
British Food Fortnight encourages us all to seek out our local specialities, to get to know local butchers, greengrocers and farmer's markets, to eat seasonally and to learn what is in season at any particular time, to grow your own fruit and vegetables, to go to local pick-your-own farms, and to sample local beers.
Although the fortnight did not spring from specifically green motives and is not primarily an environmental exercise, all the advice given is pure common sense for living in harmony with our surroundings while helping the countryside, the farmers and enhancing our own health and wellbeing. This kind of event goes to show how much consensus there is now of the best way of living. It's good for the environment, it's good for the British economy, it's good for health, it's good for farmers, and it's good for our taste-buds as we remember what real, fresh food, eaten in season, in its own region, tastes like.
There are events all around the UK to celebrate local produce, from cooking classes to cider, apple and pumpkin festivals to harvest suppers, locally-caught fish meals and ale evenings. The event is supported by organisations as diverse as the Duchy of Cornwall, the Campaign for Real Ale, the National Trust, the Soil Association and the World Cancer Research Fund. So, it's definitely worth getting involved to remind people that good food isn't just an issue for alternative weirdos, it's something that affects us all, in lots of different ways.
