January

5th - 7th January 2001 - Soil Association National Conference on organic food and farming, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.

Speakers include Rt. Hon. Michael Meacher MP. Supported by Sainsbury and Triodos Bank.

Contact Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

22nd -25th January 2001 - Hospitality Week 2001 , NEC Birmingham

The premier hospitality trade show in the UK. For more details see the Hospitality Week website .

26th - 28th January 2001 - 10th Annual Indian Food Festival, Grafton Manor Hotel, Bromsgrove, Worcs

Highlights a cookery demonstration by Simon Morris, former Curry Chef of the Year

For information call Grafton Manor on 01527 579007

Top

February

15th -18th February - Bio Fach 2001, Exhibition Centre, Nuremberg.

The Soil Association International Team from Soil Association Certification Ltd will be at the British Organic Pavilion.

Contact Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

16th February - Direct organic meat marketing, Sheepdrove Farm, Lambourn, Berkshire.

Seminar examining the opportunities for selling meat direct to consumers through box schemes, home delivery, farmers' markets and farm shops. Subjects covered will include technical information and marketing techniques.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

22nd February - The agronomy and feeding of alternative forages to dairy and beef cattle, Chisel Farm, Blandford, Dorset.

Subjects covered include growing alternative crops and the use of alternative forages.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

Top

March

13th March - Organic plant raising, Gerway Nurseries, Ottery St Mary, Devon.

This seminar will examine the important subject of successful plant raising to produce healthy transplants and crops.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

25th - 28th March - IFE 2001 , ExCeL, London

IFE, the International Food & Drink Exhibition, is the UK's largest and most important food and drink exhibition, attracting 1,450 exhibitors and 38,000 visitors from across the retail, catering, manufacturing and wholesale markets.

Featuring a wide variety of features, events and seminars to broaden your horizons including the IFE Trends Zone, the World of Cheese, the IGD Global Retailing Conference and the launch of the Organic Food & Farming Report.

For more information visit the IFE website.

28th March - Livestock management plans for organic farms, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Robinswood Hill Country Park, Gloucester.

The seminar will examine livestock standards and the construction of effective livestock plans. Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

Top

April

25th April - Overcoming the challenges of long season organic glasshouse production, Cantelo Nurseries, Chilton Cantelo, Yeovil, Somerset.

Glasshouse standards have been fully reviewed and will be discussed at this event which will cover all aspects of organic conversion and beyond. Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418.

27th April - Organic seed production and usage - towards 2004, Woodlands Farm, Boston, Lincs.

Examines all the changes and challenges involved in the move to totally organic seed use in organic production by 2004. Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

Top

May

The Great Organic Bike Ride.

Take part in this bike ride from Bilbao to Barcelona or vice versa through spectacular countryside, while enjoying the tastes of delicious Spanish organic food and wine, and raising funds for the Soil Association.

Details from 0117 914 2427 or info@soilassociation.org

3rd May - Establishment, improvement and management of organic grassland, Riverford Farm and NIAB, Totnes, Devon.

Information and advice on the current 'best practice' in grassland management in organic systems will be the focus of this seminar.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

10th May - Internal parasite control for organic sheep and cattle, the Organic Resource Centre, Low Luckens, Roweltown, Cumbria.

This day will explore all of the strategies and recent research into approaches for internal parasite control. Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

15th May - Building the enterprise range, Manor Farm, Long Whatton, Leicestershire.

This important event will investigate ways to expand farm enterprises to a more fully integrated system, including co-operation and diversification.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

17th May - Organic early potato production, Higher Farm, Beeson, Kingsbridge, South Devon.

A joint event with Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) which takes place on a recently converted mixed dairy farm, will focus on the production of early potatoes. It will discuss varieties, marketing and the integration of potatoes, vegetables and fruit into a mixed farming system in the south-west.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

17th-19th May - The Devon County Show near Exeter, with the Organic Festival of Food pavilion.

Contact Dom Lane on: 0117 914 2451

31st May - 2nd June - The 15th Stockport Beer and Cider Festival, Stockport Town Hall.

National Cider and Perry Championship: judging Saturday 2nd June.

95 different beers from 44 different breweries. For more details click here.

Top

June

June - November - The 15th Organic Food Awards. Judging days will be taking place throughout the summer and early Autumn. An awards ceremony will be held in London in early November.

Contact Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

7th -9th June - The Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge

9th -10th June - Producer weekend, Bank House Farm, Lancashire.

An enjoyable and informative weekend for organic farmers and those interested in organic farming. Includes visits to local organic farms.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

13th -14th June - Cereals 2000 trade show at Royston, Herts

Technical advice from Soil Association Producer Services.

Contact Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

17th - 19th June European Ethnic Food, Drink, Restaurant & Catering Exhibition, NEC Birmingham

A trade exhibition aimed at the ethnic food sector.

For more details:

http://www.europeanethnicfood.co.uk

Phone for free tickets: 01923 690 640

19th June - Improving organic cereal production techniques, Duchy Farms, Broadfield Farm, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Organic cereal is still under-supplied in the UK, with 60% imported. The focus of the day will be on current variety trials as well as investigating production methods.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

19th June - Bar , Business Design Centre, London

For more information visit the Barshow website .

20th June - Conversion to organic egg production, (venue tbc).

This one day seminar will examine all aspects of organic egg production, including land conversion, certification, nutrition, housing, marketing and standards.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

21st -24th June - Organic Festival of Food at The Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh

Technical advice from Soil Association Producer Services and Scottish Organic Producers Association.

Contact Dom Lane on: 0117 914 2451

21st - 28th June - Leeds Food Festival, Leeds.

Events, demonstrations, celebrity chefs Brian Turner and Sophie Grigson plus much more over the whole week.

For more information visit the event website.

26th June - Conversion to field scale organic vegetable production, Huntapac Produce, Tarleton, Lancashire.

This joint HDRA/Elm Farm/Soil Association event covers everything you need to know about conversion to organic production from the process involved to challenges faced.

27th -28th June - The Royal Norfolk Show.

28th June - Mechanical weed control for organic horticulture, Riverford Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon.

Information and advice through seminars and machinery demonstrations on weed control for organic growers.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418.

Top

July

2nd - 5th July - The Royal Agricultural Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.

6th -8th July 2001 - The Organic Food and Wine Festival, Olympia.

The main consumer show of the year for everything that is organic.

Contact 020 8746 2832 or e-mail ofw@globalnet.co.uk

6th July - 'Organic food and public health', Organic Food and Wine Festival, Olympia

Patrick Holden, Soil Association Director will give a talk.

Contact Mike Collins: 0117 987 4580

10th -12th July - The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate.

12th July - Organic sugar beet production, eastern counties (Venue tbc).

Opportunities for organic sugar beet production and the practical agronomy of the crop will be explored, as well as successful case studies and the financial viability.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418.

21st -22nd July - Local action for local food, Abbey Home Farm, Gloucestershire.

The Soil Association has organised this workshop and celebration of local food.  The aim of the weekend, supported is to explore ways that people can support local organic producers and includes an organic Sunday lunch made from home grown produce.  Contact Rupert Aker:  0117 914 2425

25th July - Nantwich International Cheese Show, Dorfold Hall Park, Nantwich, Cheshire.

Probably the largest cheese show in the world. Part of the Nantwich and South Cheshire Agricultural Society's show. See and sample thousands of cheeses from around the world. The show is poised to be bigger and better than last years record breaking event.

25th July - Quality organic pig production and marketing, Eastbrook Farm, near Swindon, Wiltshire.

This event will cover the subjects from the newly introduced pig standards (as revised by the EU livestock regulations), to issues of nutrition. The day will go on to develop the opportunities and constraints of the market, with sessions on marketing and quality, and the Soil Association's equivalence work (in relation to imported organic food) to ensure a level playing field for UK producers.

Contact Mark Whitaker: 0117 914 2418

23rd -26th July - The Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells.

Top

September

2nd - 4th September - Foodservice Festival, Grand Hall, Olympia, London

Call 01474 565323 for more information.

9th - 11th September - Speciality and Fine Food Fair, Olympia London.

11th September - National Curry Chef Final, Windsor Hall, Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth

Regional winners compete for £3000 prize money. To get tickets or for more information phone 0207 827 5835

14th - 23rd September 2001 - Bradford Food and Drink Festival, Bradford

Following the success of the first festival last year, another event is planned to include many more additions to the programme. For more details go to the Bradford Food and Drink Festival Website.

17th - 19th September - The Restaurant Show, Earls Court Olympia, London

For more information please phone 020 8565 4484

Top

October

Organic Harvest Month.

Organised by the Soil Association this is a month long celebration of everything organic with special consumer promotions and events.

Further information from 0117 929 0661, harvest@soilassociation.org or http://www.soilassociation.org

Contact Tom De Pass: 0117 987 4582

The National Conference for Organic Food Processors. Date and Venue to be confirmed.

Further details available from Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

5th - 12th October - National Seafood Week

Plans have been unveiled to launch the first UK-wide National Seafood Week later this year. use the week to promote the benefits of eating seafood, in all its forms, to consumers across the UK. Special emphasis will be placed on the health and convenience benefits of preparing and eating seafood.

Click here for more details.

6th October - The 55th Soil Association Annual General Meeting, East Anglia.

Contact Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

9th -10th October - Organex 2001, Grand Hall Olympia.

The Soil Association Certification Ltd information stand will be at this organic trade show.

For more information visit the Organex website .

Contact Dom Lane: 0117 914 2451

9th - 10th October - Pub, Club and Leisure, GMEX Centre, Manchester.

For more information visit the show website.

15th -21st October - Organic Week, including the announcement of the winners of the Organic Food Awards 2001.

Organised by the Soil Association this is a week long celebration of everything organic with special consumer promotions and events.  Contact Tom De Pass: 0117 987 4582 or email tdepass@soilassociation.org

Top

Eat & Drink Events Diary

1999

2000

Do you have a Food or Drink related event to promote. If so give the premier on-line Eat & Drink site the detail and we'll include it in our events diary.
Mail the details to us.