Soil Association Organic Food Festival 2008

The Soil Association Organic Food Festival, sponsored by Yeo Valley Organic, is Europe’s largest celebration of all things organic and kicks off this year’s Soil Association Organic Fortnight, a nationwide campaign bringing together individuals, communities, retailers, restaurants, schools and organic farms. The festival will take place in Bristol on September 6 and 7, 2008. Now in its eighth year, the festival will be host to over 300 organic companies showcasing the very best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and homeware products. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with bustling food markets, a green planet pavilion, a demonstration kitchen, an exciting talks programme, food cruises around the harbour, and an arts and entertainment fringe that includes food demos, children's activities, and music.

New to the festival for 2008 are the Local Market in Anchor Square, the Grow Your Own Organic Garden area, Organic Live! areas including cookery demos and wine tasting and the Food for Life Partnership Cooking Bus in the Kid’s zone. The festival will open with the Matthew sailing towards the Amphitheatre.

This year’s festival is greener than ever with the introduction of sustainably sourced biofuel (from used cooking oil) to power the festival generators, and an emphasis on travelling to the festival by train, bus and ferry. To keep it green and encourage people to come by train, the Soil Association, in partnership with First Travel, are offering a 2 for 1 offer on festival tickets on presentation of proof of using First Travel transport. There will be comprehensive recycling facilities provided by Network Recycling, sponsored by Barts Spices, and the Soil Association is supporting WRAP's 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaign with sessions in the Demo Kitchen and interactive talks - highlighting that the food we throw away is a huge waste of energy, water and packaging.

www.soilassociation.org/festival