Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) - A new website is making it easier to eat local in Cumberland County. Launched this month, eatlocalcumberland.ca lets visitors discover local food and drink options via an interactive map and online database.
Rebecca Jones is the Cumberland County Community Food Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre, and a resident of Cumberland County.
“There’s so much diversity across our county,” Jones says, “This map is a great way to find the hidden gems – whether it’s a farm stand selling seasonal produce or a sugar shack in the woods with delicious maple products, you’re sure to find an exciting and delicious adventure in Cumberland.”
Jones says eating locally is one of the best ways to combat the effects of climate change.
“Many programs have tried to make consumers think about where their food comes from, but nothing has provided a long-term solution to eating and sourcing food locally,” Jones says.
Lisa Emery, Chair of Cumberland Food Action Network, hopes the website makes it easier for residents and tourists to find local produce and support the local economy. “It’s very user-friendly. You can search by product, or you can move the map around to see what pops up in the area you’d like to visit,” says Emery.
The website is crowd-sourced, engaging local communities to provide feedback and insight on their culinary experiences. And local food producers and sellers are able to create their own listing on the website, updating photos and business hours as necessary.
Jones hopes it will be a helpful tool in boosting the local economy.
“Tourists are often looking for food or drink related adventures, and this site is a great way to connect people to local products across Cumberland,” says Jones.
The project was created by the Cumberland Food Action Network, in partnership with the Our Food Project at the Ecology Action Centre.
To visit the site, please go to eatlocalcumberland.ca. The site can also be found through the CFAN website (www.cumberlandfoodaction.com), which houses lots of valuable information regarding food-related projects and events in Cumberland County.
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The Ecology Action Centre is a member-based environmental charity in Nova Scotia taking leadership on critical issues from biodiversity to climate change to environmental justice.
The Cumberland Food Action Network is a member-based organization that promotes positive food changes and works towards a sustainable and healthy local food system through action, education and events.
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Rebecca Jones
Community Food Coordinator, Cumberland County, EAC
Rebecca.jones@ecologyaction.ca
Lisa Emery
Chair, Cumberland Food Action Network
emeryvine@gmail.com