Following the incredible success of 2022’s Somerset Food Trail, which saw 8,500 members of the public visiting over 190 sustainable food producers and retailers, the 2023 Trail is now open, with a new overarching theme of The 30-mile Feast.
Foodies will be able to taste the best that the county has to offer at a series of feasts that showcase ingredients supplied by Somerset’s growing band of regenerative farmers and sustainable food producers from 14-30 July 2023.
Somerset Food Trail is managed and run by Sustainable Food Somerset (formerly Wells Food Network), a local advocacy group working towards a more nature-friendly food system. They are putting out a countywide call to encourage feasts and tastings that can showcase food gleaned and grown within a 30-mile radius and with such an abundance of growers on our doorstep, that shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
“We are particularly keen to include events that showcase cost-effective sources of good food, such as foraging and community growing”, says new SFS board member, Graham Harvey. An environmental campaigner who for more than 30 years was a script-writer and agricultural story editor on the BBC’s longest-running radio drama, The Archers, Graham says it is important to recognise that these are “feasts for nature”, with the emphasis being on helping people learn more about where their food comes from. “Ultimately, we are trying to create a movement that gets consumers to wield the power they have to impact food production, supporting the shift to nature-friendly farming that is vital for our planet.”
Stewart Crocker, Chair of Sustainable Food Somerset says: “It’s time to recognise the value of restoring and creating habitat for nature within a productive landscape. It is telling that one of the key topics under discussion at Davos this January was food systems and how they can be revolutionised through regenerative agriculture. Our chemical-dependent food system is simply unsustainable in every sense.”
The 2023 Trail has over 350 events happening countywide involving 170 food producers and retailers.
There will be 35 x 30 mile feasts taking place the length and breadth of the county, from the fancy five-coursers to fun picnics and bring your owns. Have a wild swim before you dig into the Feltham’s Farm entirely homegrown feast, or chill to jazz amidst the views at Wraxall Vineyard’s new wine tasting room The View, followed by locally sourced sharing boards. Take a look at the full range of feasting options on offer here.
Whether you’d rather get a behind-the-scenes tour of a dairy, see buffalo mozzarella making in action, visit farm animals, get to grips with Somerset cider and spirits production or do a sausage-making course – there’s something for everyone and anyone with an interest in food!
See the website to plan your visits, and keep tuning into Facebook and Instagram to keep updated.
Feature Photo Credit: William Sitwell Webpage.
