FRESH Celebrating Local Food in Seattle

On Sunday, Fremont Brewing Company, Theo Chocolate and Mt. Townsend Creamery joined forces to create a local food extravaganza as part of a series of events leading up to the premiere of FRESH, a new documentary on local food systems.

Dozens milled around the room amongst steel tanks and oak kegs, sampling delectable camembert, fresh bread, chocolate confections and beers. In between bites and sips, those in attendance talked about locally-produced food (and probably how delicious it was).

The director of the film, ana Sofia joanes, was hoping to show, but couldn’t make it.  (She’ll be in town later this month, though. See below.) An event organizer relayed what joanes wanted to say to the Seattle audience. In a nutshell, the local food movement is a way to “heal the environment” and “revitalize local economies,” all while enjoying food made of the “best, freshest ingredients.” It was an easy argument to make in front of those currently noshing on beer-infused chocolates.

Afterwards, Seattle City Council President, and local food champion, Richard Conlin took the floor. He started off by reminding everyone that this was the year of urban agriculture. Creating networks of businesses that are involved in food growing to food processing to food distribution would strengthen communities and spur economic activity. After all, he said eyeing the crowd, “nothing brings us together more than sharing food.”

He then outlined the most important changes happening in Seattle that support urban agriculture.

• Gardening in Planting Strips: The Seattle Department of Transportation removed the requirement to get a costly permit to garden in planting strips (areas that often have good sunlight for growing healthy vegetables).
• Supporting Farmers’ Markets: Last September City Council made it easier and cheaper for farmers’ markets to get permits on publicly-owned land. Locating farmers’ markets on city property creates more stable, long-term sites, which creates convenience for both market operators and residents. In particular, Conlin envisions a farmers’ market at the Capitol Hill light rail station, so that commuters can easily do their grocery shopping.
• More P-Patch Plots: Conlin would like to give a P-Patch plot to anyone who wants one. With 2,000 currently on the waiting list, that is no easy task. However, he did say it was in the plans to make 350 new plots available by the end of the year thanks to the Parks levy that passed in 2008.
• Protect Rural Areas: By supporting programs such as transfer of development rights, King County can protect agricultural lands from development.

Those who paid for admission into Sunday’s event also received tickets to see the Seattle screening of the movie. Seattle Central Cinema will play the movie April 30 through May 6. Director joanes will make an appearance at the April 31 showing.

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