Field to Table Festival - June 8th and 9th, 2003

The Field to Table Festival on June 8th and 9th, 2003 was a huge success and from this first year can only get bigger and better. We brought together many people, organizations and sponsors to celebrate healthy, affordable, delicious food!

Eighty exhibitors participated in the market over the two days of the festival including organic suppliers, local farmers, small merchants and caterers, as well as a wide range of community partners and grassroots organizations. Local performers added their energy and music to both days. Celebrity servers including mayoral candidates Gary Benner, Barbara Hall, David Miller, John Nunziata, Rabindra Prashad and John Tory served up the salad bar at Nathan Philips Square. City Council declared June 9th Field to Table Day.

More than 150 volunteers made this event happen and run smoothly - thanks for your amazing help. We estimate that about 4000 people attended over both days. Honourary co-chairs for the event, Dr. Sheela Basrur, Medical Officer of Health, and Andy Barrie, host of CBC Metro Morning, worked hard to get the message out. People throughout Toronto learned about FoodShare and the event on CBC's Metro Morning, on the evening TV news, radio and community press.

We received a great deal of positive feedback from those who attended. Some people even asked if we were going to do this every week in Nathan Philips Square!

As well as building awareness, we see the Festival as an important fundraising opportunity for us in future years. Please check out the PHOTO ALBUM of the festival. We’ll keep you up-to-date with the Field to Table Campaign Eat It, Grow It, Share It: Put Food First you helped us to launch.

See you at the Festival next year!