Wellington County’s Taste Real Program has received the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance (OCTA) Award of Excellence for Event of the Year for its Local Food Fest.
The festival is held annually in June at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre and Farm just outside Guelph, attracting families, students, seniors and professionals. More than 50 exhibitors also took part offering prepared foods, craft beer samples, fresh produce and flowers.
“We’re honoured to receive the award and we’re thrilled for our community partners, sponsors and volunteers who work so hard to celebrate local food and agriculture in Wellington County,” says Christina Mann, Taste Real coordinator.
The event highlights Guelph Wellington as a food destination within Ontario, deeply rooted in agriculture and rich in creative and innovative farm and food businesses, states a press release from the county.
The awards, presented by OCTA in Toronto this month, “celebrate the passion and excellence of those dedicated to advancing the culinary tourism movement in Ontario. They recognize the efforts of those who help promote farmers, chefs and beverage producers,” the release notes.
At Local Food Fest visitors can take part in workshops to make cheese and bread, or learn the finer points of canning, butchery, goat milking and fermenting. Patrons are also able to pick up fresh, local, healthy food and local food industry professionals are able to network.
