A Local Food Centre for Exeter
We have commissioned a one year feasibility study into whether Food Exeter can help establish a ‘local food centre‘. This would be a ground-breaking not for profit business, aimed at making local, sustainably produced food available to the people, organisations and businesses of Exeter at affordable prices. We hope to publish the results of the study by the end of 2020.
Community Food
We want to see a step change in the level of provision of all kinds of ‘community food’ activities – community growing, cafes, kitchens, shared meals, learning and training. We have published research looking at what is happening in Exeter and making recommendations. We are currently exploring the potential to bring existing initiatives and groups together around an ambitious funding bid around community growing and another around community cafes and kitchens. If you would like to know more, please email info@foodexeter.org.uk
More food markets for Exeter
Food Exeter wants to see more markets where people can buy local, sustainably produced food at affordable prices. We would like to see an innovative and flexible approach taken to encouraging city centre and neighbourhood markets, food ‘pop-ups’ and food street trading. These kinds of activities not only provide a valuable way for new entrepreneurs to test their ideas, but also encourage the ‘micro’ businesses that are an important feature of the local economy. We want Exeter to follow innovative cities that have made their city centres vibrant and resilient, by building a modern market space in the city centre, for food, but also providing space for other activities. We support the idea of an interim marketplace somewhere in the city centre, to test and build support for a longer term proper modern marketplace.
As part of testing innovative market-based solutions, Food Exeter has supported the launch of an online farmers market for Exeter, to help small, independent food producers get their sustainably grown, local food directly to customers. Good Food Exeter, the social enterprise set up by Food Exeter, has the flexibility to become a leading social enterprise supporting different kinds of sustainable food initiatives. We acknowledge the generous support of the national Veg City campaign for this project.
We want to work with any individuals, businesses or organisations who also want to see more market and street stalls that support our local food economy and sustainable local agriculture.
