The Food Fest in Skellefteå 2007 23. – 26. August
The town of Skellefteå, which is in Västerbotten region in Northern Sweden, is the site of a Food Fest – a folk gathering with events and activities to do with regional food culture. Things Swedish and north Swedish are naturally in focus, but it is interesting to have an international perspective on how to strengthen a region with the help of food. Visitors are offered tastes, smells, gastronomic experiences, culinary cultures, fresh-produce markets, chef’s contests and a good deal of other things to interest the whole family. It will be a feast and a pleasure, but will also provide a stimulus to all sections of the food industry; small-scale and large-scale growers, producers, retailers, restaurants, international guests, shops, health organisations and so on.
Visitors have free admission to the Fest area (see the sketch of the area) which will be filled with gastronomic enjoyment. So of course, we are hoping for plenty of visitors at the Nordanå area, where the Fest takes place. Here are some samples from the general programme which is still being put together:
The restaurant precinct, where restaurateurs have the chance to serve their best dishes. Visitors sit at a tastefully-laid table, and can enjoy good food and drink. The meal market, with a multifaceted range of good value samples of regional dishes, but with influences from many cultures: palt-dumplings, salmon, fast food, cloudberry ice cream, north Swedish pizza, street food, the local cheese Västerbottensost, fried herring, etc. Children's amusements including food-fun competitions, mini courses, a tryout kitchen and of course meals that please children.
Theme market tents for example featuring barbecues, Sámi (Lappish) food, historical cooking, courses and international participation from other food cultures.
Chef’s competitions will be organised on several different themes – The Game Chef of the Year and a barbecue duel between different companies for example. A fresh-produce market with produce and products from growers, producers and craftsmen from the region is an essential ingredient. The café tent is expected to be a public favourite, enabling people to see a first-class pastry cook at work. Events and exhibitions on themes such as drinks, meals as theatre, where guests are invited to participate. Perhaps a fish-pond game with live fish? Of course, we will also be looking at and informing people about healthy living and healthy eating. In addition, August in Sweden means time for fermented herring and crayfish parties. During the Fest, there will also be entertainment and cultural items connected with food.
A fest for the industry
The Food Fest is above all for the visitors, but it also gives opportunities for different members of the food industry to make themselves known to consumers, and to meet each other. The plans include arranging a theme day or workshop on how to develop the regional food industry, including through international input. How can we collaborate and how can we develop our own food culture with the help of business interests? What new contact areas can we develop? Those who will find the Food Fest interesting include growers, restaurateurs, producers, importers/exporters, wholesalers, trade and special-interest organisations, public health organisations, gastronomical societies, public speakers etc.
Organisation
To add impetus to the project, Skellefteå Municipality has taken overall responsibility for this, the first Food Fest. The long-term ambition however is to develop a special form of organisation (foundation, company, economic association, for example) which ”owns and manages” the food festival. The steering group shall comprise private, public sector and non-profit participants in a partnership. Skills and creativity from all those who can be engaged to work with the food festival will be linked to this group. The steering group members are also responsible for recruiting support in their different areas of interest. Those interested to participate can contact matfesten@skelleftea.se or project leader Karin Lundkvist, Skellefteå Municipality, on tel +46 70 580 25 37 to get more information or to notify us of their interest.
More information at: www.matfesteniskelleftea.se
