Wild & Naked Food Expo: About 400 people gather at QE2 to taste local produce, participate in food workshops

More than 400 people attended a goodness festival at the QEII Centre on the weekend, indulging in natural, local produce, from stallholders promoting wild and naked eating through tastings and demonstrations. Guests supported growers and micro businesses from around the region on Saturday at the Wild & Naked Food Expo. Community members browsed the abundance of local produce and knick-knacks while participating in hands-on workshops encouraging healthy eating habits. Baguette making workshops with Cath Dalle and Jackie Gill kept the crowd wanting more plant-based samples, while local honey, oils, herbs and spices were some of the products available to buy. The Wild & Naked Food Expo included presentations from guest speakers Sally Dighton (Sal the Gardening Gal), Billy Carr (The Urban Forager) and local health experts, naturopath Charlotte Inwood and permaculture advocate Dan Fuller. The Geraldton Project event co-ordinator Lara Sampson said community members, presenters and stallholders engaged in conversations about sustainable food, gardening and farming practices. “The resounding message from all presenters was that when we keep our food as local, fresh rather than processed and over packaged it is both better for our health and the environment,” she said. “When we make our food choices our decisions can support ecology, reduce landfill as well as our own health. Choosing local, nude food can keep us connected to the wellbeing of each other and our environment.”