It turns out there are loads of people working to create a healthier, more sustainable food system throughout County Cork. We had the honour of meeting many of these people when they came together for the 3rd annual Cork Food Policy Council Sustainable Food Awards, an event we hosted on the evening of February 12, 2019.

For us, these awards are an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of people who go the extra mile when it comes to sustainable food practices. We’ve noticed that most of these people quietly work away on their sustainable food projects and don’t get the recognition they deserve. Through the awards, we shine the spotlight on them and applaud their work.

We also get to see just how many individuals, groups and businesses are aware of the need for a more sustainable food system and actively working to make it a reality. There are more people involved in developing a healthier, fairer food system than you might think.

This year, we had over 40 applicants from throughout County Cork – see here for the full list. The applicants came from different sectors which include private business, not for profit, private and public institutions and primary and secondary schools. Every nominee received a Certificate of Recognition presented by CFPC coordinator Maria Young, CFPC chair Colin Sage, and the Lord Mayor Cllr Mick Finn. Four nominees walked away with a Certificate of Excellence and a prize of €500 donated by SuperValu Ireland.  

At the awards we saw growers committed to chemical-free, environmentally-conscious methods of agriculture. We saw markets that consolidate access to local producers and eliminate food miles. We saw food companies championing plant-based eating and following business models embedded with renewable resources. We saw an impressive number of national schools growing their own produce to promote healthy eating in the classrooms through practical cooking sessions. We saw hospitals and other institutions developing edible gardens not only for the practicality of producing food, but also for the purpose of fostering mental and emotional wellbeing through time spent in a garden.    

These are the people who inspire us with their enthusiasm and their tenacity. Each one of them is taking part in creating a stronger food system that, we believe, will have the ability to improve the lives of every person living in County Cork.

As we look forward to hosting more food awards in the years to come, we look forward to seeing the number of applicants grow as more and more people are encouraged to take part in changing our food system for the better.