Bouctouche Local Brunch: A Celebration of Local Food
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A true feast was what over 120 people who gathered at L’auberge le vieux presbytère in Bouctouche, New Brunswick enjoyed last Sunday. They gathered to celebrate local food, and they didn’t go home hungry!
While local musicians filled the air with traditional Acadian tunes, a welcome was given by the town mayor, and introductory comments were made by the hosts of the event (The Beyond Factory Farming Coalition and the Green Initiatives Group from Bouctouche). Brunchers were encouraged to reflect on the importance of local food, and gave a round of applause when told their meal traveled no further than 72 kilometres (compared to the average 2500 km for a typical meal). They were reminded that while being dependent on the global food system is perhaps more “convenient,” it is precarious in that, should there be a disruption in the distribution system, grocery stores shelves would empty in a period of 24 hours.
Local food systems, such as farmers’ markets and Community Shared Agriculture (among many others) are important alternatives to global food that communities need to rally behind. One study showed that by supporting local food systems communities experience benefits such as:
- Better and more stable farm incomes that keep existing farms in business and attract new farmers
- More wealth retained in rural communities
- New jobs created in food production, processing, distribution and retailing
- Better access to healthier, more diverse foods that help to prevent obesity and diet-related diseases
- Increased supply of healthy, local food in underserved communities
- Enhanced product traceability and accountability of producers and consumers
When filling her plate with the region’s best, one bruncher commented “I had no idea we could produce all of this in Kent County. I am truly inspired.” Her reflection was an important one in that, local food is not about eating root vegetables in January and restricting that temptation for the kiwi or iceburg lettuce in the middle of winter. Local food is as much cultural as it is economic. We are proud of what we can produce here. We are proud of those who grow food for us, and should buy what we can locally when we can. And we are even more proud to enjoy a true feast, knowing that by supporting local food systems we are supporting our community. And that is something to celebrate!
On the menu* was:
- Bacon
- BBQ Buffalo Sausages
- Grilled Chicken breasts
- Oysters
- French toast with maple syrup
- Bread and fruit spreads
- An assortment of artisan cheeses
- Organic cantaloupe and melon
- Apple pie
- Sugar Pie and Pets de soeur (with maple syrup)
- Blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry fruit coulis
- Apple cider, cranberry juice, and blueberry/cranberry/apple juice
- Artisan wine (elderberry, blueberry, strawberry, red grape)
- Sweet corn on the cob
- Salads (fresh bean salad, green garden salad with organic vegetables)
*All meat was from sustainably raised animals