Local organizers will participate in a national event Oct. 24 to highlight healthy, affordable and sustainable food options.
 
Feast Down East and University of North Carolina Wilmington are teaming up with area businesses to recognize Food Day Wilmington. Free public events are scheduled on the school’s campus as well as at participating restaurants and at Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market, 5329 Oleander Drive.
 
This is the third year for the event, said Jane Steigerwald, director of Feast Down East.
 
“This has just grown into an immense event,” she said. “This is a national movement toward sustainable real food, so we’re kind of spreading the word for the nation organization.”
 
The Center for Science in the Public Interest nonprofit created the national campaign, and events are planned around the country.
 
As part of the local day, organizers are coordinating with the Wilmington Housing Authority to provide transportation so residents can visit the events at UNCW since a focus also is on fresh food affordability.
 
Since a number of the events are being held on UNCW’s campus, Food Day also pulls in students, Steigerwald said.
 
“It’s a wonderful way to involve our students in their local food system,” she said.
 
Events for the day include:

• proclamations by New Hanover County and Wilmington officials
• a sustainable food fair noon-2 p.m. at the UNCW amphitheater, featuring an outdoor Iron Chef competition, kale-eating competition and more
• educational workshops on topics such as urban/community farming, fermenting food tips and food insecurity 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at UNCW’s Lumina Theater
• a special all-you-can-eat lunch of locally sourced dishes by UNCW Campus Dining’s chefs at Dubs Café in the school’s Warwick Center for $7
• a free outdoor screening of the documentary Growing Cities at 7 p.m. at Tidal Creek. Tidal Creek also will be collecting fresh food donations Oct. 20-24 leading up to the day, to give to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina

 
Steigerwald said Pine Valley Market has signed on to offer a special lunch in conjunction with Food Day Wilmington. And as other restaurants are added, their specials will be listed on Feast Down East’s website.
 
For more information about participating locations and a full list of events, go to www.FeastDownEast.org