Co-op supports UK's first ever Children's Food Festival

Thursday 23 November, 2006

The Midcounties Co-operative has announced its support for the UK's first ever Children's Food Festival, one of the exciting events being organised to celebrate Oxfordshire's 1000th anniversary next year.

The festival will take place over the weekend of 14 & 15 July 2007 at the Northmoor Trust's conservation farm, 10 miles south of Oxford, near Wittenham Clumps. The Midcounties Co-operative is a keen supporter of local food events and has joined forces with organisers, Oxford Inspires and Northmoor Trust, to back the festival with a £7,000 donation and items in kind.

The aim of the festival is to transform young people's approach to food and to give children and parents a fresh perspective on healthy eating. Raymond Blanc and Sophie Grigson lead a strong line-up of chefs, restaurants and farmers who are taking part. The festival will be free and the approach will be creative, participatory and humorous. Six 'Field to Fork' marquees will be the heart of the festival: The Meat Tent, The Dairy Tent, The Fruit and Vegetable Tent, The Bread Tent, The Honey Tent and The Smell Tent (herbs and spices). There will also be walkabout theatre, farm animals and rare breeds, a mediaeval feast and a farmers' market of local, organic and fair trade produce.

"When we heard the plans for the Children's Food Festival we wanted to lend our support because this is such an important issue," said Sarah Buy of The Midcounties Co-operative. "We have sponsored other events including the East Oxford and Headington festivals and this one is particularly exciting because the earlier that children can be inspired about choosing healthy, delicious food, the better. The Co-op has its own Local Harvest scheme which teaches customers about healthy eating."

In all, around 40 special events are being planned around the county for Oxfordshire 2007: an exciting array of art, dance, theatre, music—not to mention food and sport. And many of Oxfordshire's 70-plus festivals will also be joining in the party with their own "thousand year" take on the proceedings.

The year is coordinated by Oxford Inspires, the county's cultural development agency, which is funded by the City Council, County Council and Oxford's two universities. Oxford Inspires and Oxfordshire 2007 also has the support of many local businesses, including The Midcounties Co-op, whose contribution helps to support the creative life of the county.

To find out more about next year's festivities visit www.oxfordshire2007.com.

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