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Introduction
This document has been created by the Explore Local Initiative to help you plan a local food
event. You will find reasons to choose local and it explains a variety of formats for presenting local
foods to guests. It also discusses the challenges of sourcing the best ingredients and shares tips
learned from past events.
Albertans organize community events across the province and food is usually one of the aspects.
Specifically, a local food event features foods grown and prepared close to the event location, and
extra effort is often required to source local ingredients. You could simply choose a caterer for a
meeting who specializes in local or it can be as complex as a multiple day festival of food where
chefs, farmers and others gather to present a variety of dishes to a large crowd.
Why Local Food?
Less than 18 per cent of Albertans live in rural areas and most aren’t in direct contact with
agriculture. A food event connects urban populations back to the land, as well as helps to remind
guests where some of their food comes from and understand the value of agriculture and farming.
Farmers and food processors benefit when buyers take an interest in their efforts and an event is a
chance for growers to tell their story and teach consumers about the foods they are eating. This
promotion of local should result in more buyers and a growth in sales. Ultimately, the overall local
food system has potential to grow.
Local food is worth the extra effort. Food consumed close to where it was grown and processed is
as fresh as possible and engages all the senses. Producers often possess knowledge of how to
prepare what they grow in unique ways. When quality, locally grown foods are intertwined with
Alberta’s culture and history it creates a unique experience for visitors and citizens alike.
Define Local for Your Event
As you plan your event, write a definition of local for yourself. Generally local means ‘food less
travelled.’ It could be defined as foods grown and/or prepared within a 100 kilometre radius of
your event. You also may choose to showcase foods from your county, river valley, region, or
province.
You may want to define a percentage of your meal to be local. The smaller the geography and
higher the percentage of local ingredients you want to use, the bigger your challenge. A 100 per
cent local menu anywhere in Canada will exclude black coffee and tea from your event; a
compromise would be to serve locally roasted coffee.