Visitors turned out to learn about a new group which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of food production during the St Albans Food and Drink Festival.
Over 60 people including residents, councillors, businesses, farmers and food producers were inspired to put their ideas on the table at the Food Smiles event to redesign a more sustainable, community-orientated and healthy approach to obtaining local food.
The idea of a Community Supported Agriculture Project has been initiated by Transition St Albans, a local environmental community group.
The project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of food production by decreasing food miles and to encourage residents to get involved in producing their own food alongside local farmers and food producers.
Stuart Roberts, a speaker at the event who runs the organic family farm at Hammonds End, Harpenden said: "We supply Redbournbury Mill with our local organic wheat and I feel very positive about working with Food Smiles to help the provision of locally sourced food in St Albans."
The Food Smiles team at St Albans Market last month
Other speakers included Andrei Lussmann, of Lussmanns Restaurant in St Albans, John Gunner who runs Harpenden restaurant That Little Place and Ann de Bock, the rural care manager at Church Farm, Ardeley.
Robert Simpson also came from Farnham Food to talk about the achievements of their community food project.
For more information visit www.transitionstalbans.org/food-smiles or email info.foodsmiles@gmail.com.
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