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Environment

FOODSTOCK: Save The Land That Feeds Us

100 of Canada’s best chefs cook up a storm to help Stop The Mega Quarry.

Honeywood, ON – On Sunday, October 16th almost 100 chefs from across the country will gather to cook up a feast in a pay-what-you-can foodie festival on a farm north of Orangeville. FOODSTOCK, as it’s known, will turn local ingredients--all generously donated by Ontario producers-- into gourmet dishes highlighting the bounty of farmland that could be devastated by a proposed mega quarry.

The prospect of replacing ‘taters with craters’ has deeply concerned restaurateurs across Canada. Celebrated chef Michael Stadtländer—whose nearby Eigensinn Farm and Haisai Restaurant are internationally celebrated—is spearheading FOODSTOCK together with the Canadian Chefs’ Congress. “This will be the culinary equivalent of the original ‘60s celebration,” says Stadtländer. “Each chef is pouring their talent into one dish. We expect close to 20,000 people, and if you love food, farmland and water, you will not be disappointed.”

Top musicians have also joined the campaign. "Happy to lend a hand to people who are trying to preserve the sanctity of water and arable land,” offers Jim Cuddy. “If a little music can help open some peoples' eyes to the risks we are facing up here then I consider myself lucky to be able to help." The line-up of musicians backstopping this culinary tour de force includes Jim Cuddy, Sarah Harmer, Ron Sexsmith, Tom Barlow, Cuff The Duke, Hayden, Lily Frost and Jose Contreras and a host of unplugged artists. Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace), will MC and speakers include Faisal Moola of The David Suzuki Foundation as well as Mark Calzavara (Council of Canadians), Danny Beaton (Mohawk First Nation) and Jeff Monague (Beausoleil First Nation).

In March of this year, The Highland Companies-backed by the Baupost Group hedge fund of Boston-applied to the province to excavate the largest quarry in Canadian history. If allowed to proceed, the mega quarry would:

· Span more than 2,300 acres (1/3 of the size of downtown Toronto),

· Require extraction of 600 million litres of water per day FOREVER, affecting the watersheds of five southern Ontario river systems,

· Destroy Class 1 farmland consisting of Honeywood Silt Loam—a specialty soil now producing approximately 50% of the GTA market for potatoes.

Pre-interviews with Chefs will be available at the dedicated FOODSTOCK media tent near the main entrance from 10 am. Interviews with musicians will be available from the media tent throughout the day as the artists are present.

FOODSTOCK will take place on Sunday, October 16th from 11:00 to 5:00 at Lennox Farms just west of County Road 124, Melancthon Township, Dufferin County. The entrance is off the 20th Sideroad, west of 124, at Conover, Ontario.

For complete details or to learn more about Michael Stadtländer, please visit canadianchefscongress.com. To contact Chef Michael Stadtländer, please email Christian Morrison or call 416 537 9977. See nomegaquarry.ca or NDACT.com for more details.