It will be Eat Local Day in St. Kitts, when the Department of Agriculture stages its 4th edition of a food festival at Independence Square, running from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
The Department has stated that the emphasis of the festival, as the name implies, is strictly locally prepared food, as they try to get the population to eat a complete local meal on that day.
One of the objectives is to get nationals and in some cases foreigners, accustomed to the taste and versatility of local foods. To this end the Department has contracted six caterers to satisfy the anticipated appetites of over 1500 patrons. As a result of this drive, it has been proven that the demand for locally produce food has increased, said a representative from the Department of Agriculture.
They are therefore hoping that once again, the demand for local foods would continue and more importantly that producers are able to satisfy the requirements of consumers.
The successful staging of the Eat Local Day also lends credence to the issue of food security or guards against food insecurity. It helps to answer the question of “what if” the containers don’t come “what if” there is an international issue that prevents the timely importation of foreign food stuff.
This year the focus will be on Rabbit meat, as all the caterers will have that option on their menu. Added to that, the other regular meats of local pork, fish, mutton and beef will also be available. A booth providing ital, prepared from all local ingredients will be on hand.
The local drinks and snacks that can be used as dessert or take away will be done by two women of Agricultural Cooperatives, The Fahies Agricultural Women and the St. Kitts Agro Processors.
Apart from Farmers and Cooperatives the private sector particularly restaurants, supermarkets and hotels are also on board lending support in some form or fashion.
Eat Local Day is also being celebrated in the heat of the St. Kitts Music festival, which runs from Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th June. The food festival is also taking place at the same venue and on the same day, when the annual Child Month parade is held, involving thousands of pre-school children from throughout St. Kitts and Nevis.