A NEW project promoting local, healthy organic food has started this month in West Devon thanks to a lottery grant of £42,637.
The money was awarded to West Devon Environmental Network (WestDEN), by the Social, Economic and Environmental Development (SEED) Programme.
The Good Food Project, which started on December 1, will build on the success of WestDEN's pilot scheme, 'Feel Good Food' which provided healthy eating guidance to many local groups.
The new project will produce a local food directory. It will support more organic growers, help local groups develop schemes such as food cooperatives, school kitchen gardens and allotments. It will also promote awareness of the environmental impact of food miles, and the benefits of buying local food.
Kate Wright, good food project manager, said: 'The grant from the SEED Programme has made it possible to run this exciting project which will encourage more people to grow, produce, sell and eat healthy local food.'
The £15.3 million SEED Programme, managed by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation and 11 consortium partners, has so far awarded £2.4 million of National Lottery money in the South West, on behalf of the New Opportunities Fund, under its Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities funding programme.
The SEED Project aims to stimulate local economic development and support community enterprise, promoting sustainability and helping disadvantaged communities improve the quality of their environment.
The Good Food Project is also funded by Devon Food Links and the Goldsmith Family Trust.