The Calderdale Food Network is set to host a pop-up food and drink event at the Halifax Borough Market. This event aims to showcase local organisations and provide attendees with a taste of what Calderdale has to offer.
Scheduled for Thursday, 5th October 2023, the 2023 Calderdale Food Gathering will take place in the historic Albany Arcade at Halifax Borough Market, running from 1pm to 6pm. The proceedings will kick off with an opening ceremony by the Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Ashley Evans.
The event’s highlights will encompass a market featuring local produce, as well as various food and drink vendors. Moreover, attendees can partake in workshops, and demonstrations, and access information points offering advice on sustainable food, climate action, and cost of living support.
Furthermore, visitors will have the chance to engage with local community groups, affordable food hubs, projects focused on cultivation and cooking, community kitchens, food producers, and local traders. All of this is in addition to the already splendid range of traders and permanent stalls present in the Borough Market.
The Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Jane Scullion, said; “The upcoming Calderdale Food Gathering is an opportunity to celebrate local food and for people to come together and enjoy the diverse food and drink offerings in Calderdale.
“The Albany Arcade in the Borough Market will host a variety of stalls for people to enjoy, with fresh produce, local food and drinks businesses and information stalls. There will also be workshops demonstrations and information stalls for people to find out more about good food and inspire meals to recreate at home. The event will complement the existing offer at the Borough Market, which prides itself on providing locally sourced produce.
“We’re proud to support the Calderdale Food Network and their mission to make sustainable local food available to all. By promoting local producers, improving access to good food and inspiring people to eat more local produce, the Food Gathering event also supports our priorities to tackle the climate emergency and reduce inequalities.”
Established in 2017, the Calderdale Food Network’s goal is to establish affordable, high-quality food as a defining characteristic of Calderdale. They work in collaboration with Calderdale Council, local communities, businesses, and organisations to instil a culture of good food.
Their efforts have led to Calderdale’s inclusion in the Sustainable Food Places network, a national award programme that acknowledges and celebrates endeavours to promote healthy and sustainable food. Presently, the borough holds the bronze award and is actively working towards achieving silver status.
Tom Andrews, Director of Sustainable Food Places, said; “At the heart of the Sustainable Food Places programme is a belief that good food is a right, not a privilege and this principle is clearly evident in everything the borough has done. Calderdale stands out as a shining example of just what can be achieved when people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live.”
For further information about the Calderdale Food Network and the Food Gathering event, please contact Aine Douglas, Chair and Coordinator of the Calderdale Food Network, at aine.calderdalefoodnetwork@gmail.com.
