This is one of Food Exeter’s three overarching areas of work.
We believe that growing, buying, cooking and eating food in community settings – in neighbourhoods, through organisations or local groups – provides numerous benefits. The Covid-19 crisis has led to some great community and voluntary sector efforts to get food to people in need and an explosion of interest in buying local food. We are working to enable people who are living with food poverty to be part of developing solutions. We want Exeter to be a city with a vibrant local food culture, where you can join others in initiatives that deliver mental and physical wellbeing, build a sense of community and connect people to where their food comes from.
There is already quite a lot happening in the city, but so much more could happen. Things we want to help happen include:
- Neighbourhood ‘mini-markets’
- Working with people who are living with food poverty to develop their own solutions
- Easy availability of cooking classes that meet people’s needs
- Shared meals in community settings
- A thriving network of community cafes and kitchens developing across the city
- Buying groups able to access affordable, quality local food
- Community growing opportunities throughout the city
