Keep it local

Proponents of eating well have something to celebrate this weekend — a festival devoted to healthy, local food. Over 30 local food businesses set up shop in downtown St. Johns Saturday for the first-ever Eat Healthy Eat Local Festival.

“The festival is meant to connect the community with sources of healthy and organic foods in the area,” said Brent Hurst, festival organizer and co-owner of Oh Mi Organics.

The festival features vendors like Phillips Orchard, Good Energy Natural Foods, Sacred Spring Kombucha and Spoon Me Butter Blends, to name just a few.

Hurst said that while the festival is only one day, healthy food should be available every day to those living in St. Johns. While big box supermarkets have organic food sections, Hurst said he would like to see a more comprehensive selection of healthy foods offered in his community. To help make this a reality, proceeds from festival T-shirts sold at the event go into a start-up fund for entrepreneurs willing to open an organic food store or healthy restaurant in St. Johns.

Hurst said the of support from the community has been essential in creating the Eat Healthy Eat Local festival.

“I love this town and the people in it,” said Hurst.

The event also features live music, as well as health clinics like sports fitness and training from the Clinton County Boxing Club and onsite massages by After the Storm Healing Massage. While there are costs to putting on a festival, Hurst has lined up over 21 local business who have donated money and time to keep the festival accessible to all.

“There isn’t an asterisk next to the word free,” he said. “The festival is absolutely free.”

Eat Healthy Eat Local Festival

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 13

FREE.

100 block of East Walker Street, St. Johns

ohmiorganics.com