The 6th 'Taste' local food & drink festival starts on Friday 1st October with a cookery demonstration at Turnberrie's, Thornbury and ends on Sunday 17th October with The Big Apple Day at Grimsbury Farm. A detailed programme can be viewed or downloaded from the council's website.  Paper copies of the programme will be available towards the end of August in libraries, one-stop shops, community centres, doctors' surgeries and tourist information centres.

The launch this year is in Staple Hill - High & Broad Streets - where Show of Strength Theatre Company will perform 'Trading Local' in shops, starting at 10am with the last 5-minute monologue performance at 4.20pm.

Some of the 38 individual events include

• 'Trading Local' - theatre in shops performed in Staple Hill - Sat 2 October

• Apple cooking workshops - 15 and 17 October, Grimsbury Farm

• Film "Food Inc" - 2 October, Cossham Hall, Thornbury at 7pm

• Chipping Sodbury Food Festival - 9 October

Festival goers last year enjoy refreshments at Manor Farm, Upton Cheyney. This year they are having a Chilli Evening Festival (Sat 11 September 7-11pm) with three bands, BBQ, dancing and bar. (Entrance £5 adults, £3 children). Tickets available from their farm shop.

Also enjoying the 'Taste' festival last year in Thornbury peeling, coring and slicing apples was Isabelle Thorpe.

Both images: Neil Phillips Photography

BUY LOCAL

Have you ever wondered how you can help the environment, support local businesses, save money AND enjoy some amazing food - all at the same time?  The answer is simple - buy local!

More and more people are realising the benefits of buying from their local food producers. South Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas produce some fantastic food, from organic meat and ice cream, to eggs, milk, preserves, fresh pasta and cakes.

Want to find our where to buy some of this great food? or where your nearest farmers’ market is? Want to join in the 'Taste' Food & Drink Festival (12 September to 11 October 2009) the check out the Maps - where to buy link and the local food news and other pages following the links on the left.

Why local?

It's good for the planet...A lot of food in the big supermarkets travels hundreds and even thousands of miles before it gets to you. This uses a lot of oil in transportation and causes a huge amount of pollution - addition to climate change. Local food are also generally wrapped in less packaging, which saves resources and reduces waste.

It's good for the economy...Money spent directly within your town with independent businesses or local farmers and producers stays within your community. This provides them with a fairer price and helps create more jobs. Lower overheads mean you can often get really high quality food for a good price too.

And it's fun too... There's no doubt that supermarkets are convenient - but nothing beats getting to know your local shopkeepers and being able to ask for advice on the best way to cook a joint of meat, or new ways to prepare vegetables.

Taste and savour the flavour all the good food and drink in South Gloucestershire!

Cllr.Shirley Holloway and local Chef Ron Faulkner open the 2009 festival.

Council supports local food and drink producers! Image: Neil Phillips Photography

Local produce - Thornbury Food Fair

South Gloucestershire Council is supporting local farmers and producers by working in partnership with others to increase the amount of local, fresh food.

This is because buying locally produced food is great for the local economy and your health and also helps sustain the local landscapes we know and love.