The Valley’s Funky Mining Town Hosts a Day of the Local Food Challenge

Cumberland Food Event Highlights a Community Already Committed to Supporting Local

Cumberland will be hosting a day of local food as a part of the Comox Valley 30 Day Local Food Challenge.  On July 14th visitors will have an opportunity to sample some great local food, tour the newly revitalized Elementary School Community Garden, and use their pass books from the event to get great discounts.  Events include:

  • Local food sampling, local food puzzles for the kids, and a 10% discount for Food Challenge passport-holders all day at Seeds Food Market (on the corner of Dunsmuir and 3rd Street)
  • Mediterranean food at Tarbell’s (2705 Dunsmuir) featuring local growers, along with free samples of the best hummus in the Valley
  • Freshly made chocolate samples featuring local berries at Dark Side Chocolates (2720 Dunsmuir), as well as specials on other products made with local ingredients
  • Tour of the Cumberland Community Schools Society Environment Club Garden (2644 Ulverston Ave. – behind the Elementary School)

The Comox Valley 30-Day Local Food Challenge is a community experience each July that connects people from around the Comox Valley to the agricultural traditions and potential of this region.  Each year, local residents are challenged to spend 30 days experiencing local food through farm and food producer tours, restaurant events, educational activities and demonstrations that showcase the work and bounty of the nearly 500 farms, food producers and food-related organizations in the Comox Valley.

“Seeds Food Market fits in with the Eat Local Food Challenge in many ways”, says Seeds owner Tina Willard-Stepan.  “Our commitment year-round is to sell products from local farms and food producers as much as possible. This event is a great chance to highlight some of these products, and let people know about this commitment.”

Cumberland Community Schools Society is also excited about showcasing their newly revitalized, long-dormant community garden at the Elementary School in Cumberland.  “It was really cool to grow our own vegetables and learn where some of our food comes from”, says one student participant.  CCSS Coordinator Jeremy Grasby adds, “This is the kind of thing that Community Schools focuses on – community businesses, and participants coming together to strengthen our community through knowledge-sharing activities.”

Cumberland events will happen between 1:00 and 4:00 on Wednesday, July 14th.  For more information about other events that are a part of the Comox Valley 30 Day Eat Local Food Challenge, visit www.ourbigearth.com