Some of Britain’s best food and drink producers will be brought together at a major event showcasing sustainable food culture and its health, environmental and animal welfare benefits.
The Real Food Festival takes place at London’s Earls Court from 5-8 May 2011 with an aim to reconnect people with where their food comes. By promoting local, small producers it encourages people to buy direct from those who actually produce their food, and will feature more than 400 sustainable food producers.
Highlighting alternatives to large scale agriculture
The festival will highlight alternatives to large scale, industrialised agriculture, food manufacture and distribution, promoting seasonal, nutritionally dense food and drink produced sustainably and ethically.
Producers chosen on quality not ability to pay
A unique aspect of the event is that producers are chosen on quality not ability to pay. With many of the UK’s best food and drink producers too small to have the marketing budget for attending big events, their attendance is subsidised. This means the festival features many producers that won’t be found anywhere else.
Displays, workshops and tastings
Festival highlights include:
- butchery demo theatre, showing how to butcher meat and make the most of specific cuts
- English tea garden from the Tregothnan estate, England’s only tea producer, recreating a working tea garden where visitors can even pluck their own tea
- the cheese shop, with some of Britain’s best next to international varieties, plus tastings, demos and workshops
- Adnams Brewery Boat Bar
- sheep show, with rare breeds and shearing displays
- Garden Organic, giving visitors plenty of tips and advice about growing their own organic food
- kids’ taste tent, where children can learn how to make things like butter and bread or how to shuck oysters
More than 400 producers on show
And of course, along with all this, the 400-odd producers will be showcasing the best food and drink Britain has to offer, including:
- slow reared meat direct from the farm
- fresh seasonal fruit and veg
- sustainably caught fish
- cheeses – as Britain now has more artisan cheese makers than France, many of the best will be available
- cakes and artisan breads
- charcuterie
- preserves
- fine wines, spirits and beers
The event promises a welcome shot in the arm for small producers and a great way of promoting the sustainable food agenda.