Tasty Volunteer Opportunity
Huron County (Feb 17, 2012) – Interested in food and nutrition? Don’t mind talking to groups of people? The Huron County Community Food Advisors want you!
Community Food Advisors are trained volunteers who work with groups across Huron County to share information on healthy eating, preparing food and food safety.
Volunteer Co-ordinator Gail Fraser says Community Food Advisors can be anyone who has basic cooking skills and is comfortable speaking in front of people. The volunteers get extensive training before becoming certified. The 40 hour course covers healthy and nutritious food selection, healthy eating, budget-wise shopping, safe food handling and preserving food. Volunteers also learn about cooking demonstrations and giving community presentations.
Fraser says volunteers can be working or retired because the hours are flexible.
“One of the great things about becoming a Community Food Advisor is the chance to learn from dietitians, public health inspectors, public health nurses and other professionals,” says Fraser. “Besides gaining new knowledge, it’s a great group of people who like to have fun!”
For more information or a volunteer application form, visit www.huroncounty.ca/health or call Gail Fraser at the Huron County Health Unit by March 16th at 519-482-3416 extension 2312. The free training will run from April through June.
This program is sponsored by the County of Huron, Nutrition Resource Centre, Grand Bend & Area Community Health Centre, Zehrs Goderich and Hansen’s Exeter.
Get Your Business On the Map
Get your business on the 4th edition of the Huron Perth Buy Local! Buy Fresh! map. Click here to register.
Get Your Business on the Map!
For Immediate Release: February 3, 2012
Huron County – The Huron Perth Buy Fresh Buy Local Map is releasing a new edition in 2012 and is encouraging farm gates and local food retailers to share their information on the map.
“The new local food map will be launched in May 2012,” explains Joan Brady, Opportunities Project Coordinator for the Huron Perth Farm to Table Network, “just in time for the fresh tastes of spring.”
Brady says the map is a great marketing opportunity for farm gates and local food retailers. Each business has an address marker on the map, business contact information, products available and where else their products can be found. Producers can personalize their listings with web and social media information and any other business information.
Farm businesses can get on the map by registering before Friday, March 9, 2012. Registrations are $100.00 per farm business. Forms can be found online at www.huronperthfarmtotable.ca.
“This edition of the map will be used for two years, from spring to 2012 to spring of 2014,” explains Brady. “This is the only chance to be included in the map, so we hope that many local food businesses take the opportunity.”
Businesses on the map are promoted online at www.huronperthfarmtotable.ca and through social networks: Facebook, “Farm to Table (Huron Perth)” and Twitter, @HPFarmtoTable. Participating businesses will also receive email updates on important things happening in the Huron Perth food community.
“Map participants cover approximately 70 per cent of map printing,” explains Brady. “The remainder of the funding comes from local partners.”
The last map, launched in fall 2010, included 107 producers/food retailers; 46 in Huron and 61 in Perth County.
The map is a product of the Huron Perth Farm to Table, a network of community organizations with shared concerns about access to local, healthy food and the overall vitality of agricultural-related activities in the two-county region. Other projects involve the Opportunities Project that works to create a sustainable food system and includes farmer training opportunities, market and infrastructure development as well as community engagement. Also, the Huron Good Food Box, which provides Huron County residents with access to local fruits and vegetables on a monthly basis for $15.00.
To get more information on how you can have your businesses featured on the map or on any other Huron Perth Farm to Table activities, please contact Joan Brady, Opportunities Project Coordinator, at 1-888-537-3163 or jbrady@smallbusinesshuron.ca.
Opportunities Project Update
The Opportunities Project works to create a sustainable food system by supporting food and farm businesses. It includes farmer training opportunities, market and infrastructure development as well as community engagement.
Current producer opportunities for involvement include a series of upcoming meetings to increase skills in marketing and value-added farm products. HPFTT is pleased to partner with the REACH Centre and all sessions will be held at REACH, 169 Beech Street, Clinton, Ontario.
Tuesday, February 28, 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM:
“Exploring Value Added”
A session led by OMAFRA specialists; that will explore your own ideas for value-adding on your farm and introduce the qualities needed for success. Cost: $40 (lunch included). [Snow date - February 29]
Tuesday, March 06, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM:
“Give ‘Em the Pickle: Does your Customer Service Smack of Self Service”
A video presentation and facilitated discussion. Cost: $10.
Tuesday, March 20, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM:
“When Pigs Fly: Obtaining a Small Business Loan from your Neighborhood Bank”
A video presentation and facilitated discussion. Cost: $10.
Tuesday, March 27, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM:
“Value-added Business Networking Event”
A facilitated discussion on how we as business owners can work together to build our businesses and the complimentary infrastructure necessary to further local food in Huron and Perth Counties. No charge.
Contact Opportunities Project Coordinator, Joan Brady, for more information.
“Huron County: The Makings of a Great Culinary Tourism Destination”
Monday, February 13, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Are you a grower, producer or processor in Huron County? Do you serve local food on your menus or on your shelves? Are you interested in developing the culinary tourism industry in Huron County?
Join us as we present an open discussion about culinary tourism development in Huron County.
This interactive session will be hosted by Rebecca LeHeup, Executive Director of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA), an industry-driven organization working to build capacity for culinary tourism development in Ontario.
We want to know where YOU see the culinary community in Huron County headed – have your culinary voice heard!
Click here to learn more.
