Cleveland International Film Festival - Ingredients

LET'S GO - EAT LOCAL!


That is exactly what the film "Ingredients" was saying. It pushed the local food movement. The film goes to different local farmers and restaurants’ around the nation and shows the relationships that are beginning to build between them. The Cleveland Botanical Gardens was the community partner for this film. They highlighted on their work/study program "Green Corps" which allows high school students to not only learn how to grow plants and harvest food but leadership and important job skills. The film featured other programs like this in other states as well.

After the film, producer Brian Kimmel answered a few questions from the audience. He was asked if he had grown up on a farm, thus being inspired to make a film like this. Kimmel revealed that he actually get up in the suburbs in San Francisco and thought all vegetables came from the local supermarket. In the film, it was mentioned that many "organic" food companies in fact still used pesticides that have been deemed organic by the FDA. Kimmel was asked, "How could one know if the food they buy is actually organic?" He replied with simply; do not buy by the label. Local farmers markets are the best way to get purely organic and quite tasty foods. Kimmel also spoke about the emphasis on change in school foods. He believes that the younger generations need to be educated in the local food movement due to the fast food pandemic sweeping across our nation. When children feel as if they are a part of the process of planting and growing the food, they will eat the vegetables they normally may not. He had nothing but high praises for programs like the Botanical Gardens Green Corps. A member in the audience also asked Kimmel what would be the best way to convince "bargain shoppers" that it is better to pay the extra money for local, organic, nutritious foods. Again, with a simple reply he said, "Cook them dinner."

This film will be available on DVD on www.ingredientsfilm.com.

If you would like to eat local, I advise you to visit your local farmers market! Some fellow film viewers told me that the best ones around were found at Countryside Conservancy in Peninsula, Ohio and at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, Ohio. A few farmers markets in the Cleveland area are the North Union farmers market on Shaker Square, Miles Farmers Market on Miles Rd., and the Farmers Market found at Crocker Park in Westlake.

LET"S GO!