Ashgrove and The Udder Way part of Little Food Festival in Launceston

Five years ago Ashgrove dairy at Elizabeth Town became the inaugural partner with Tasmanian eco-innovation startup The Udder Way to bring fresh milk to consumers with the health of consumers and the environment in mind.

The collaboration, which involves Ashgrove milk being poured directly, on site, into 18-little reusable kegs to supply cafes and IGA supermarkets, has expanded to include two other Tasmanian dairies and saved more than 1.2 million single-use plastic milk bottles from entering landfill.

Ashgrove and The Udder Way will be among Tasmanian food producers showcased at a new, two-day festival called the Little Food Festival, to be held in Launceston’s Civic Square on Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 15.

The festival aims to connect children aged 5-12 with the food system with hands-on food activities, cooking demonstrations and interactive workshops.

Founded by the Sandro Demoaio Foundation, the Little Food Festival is the foundation's flagship event, and in its eight-year history has never before been held outside Melbourne.

Festival guests include Thanh Truong, known as The Fruit Nerd, Good Life Permaculture's Hannah Maloney and Tasmanian food operators Palawa Kipli and FermenTasmania. 

Ashgrove marketing manager Anne Bennett said that the festival is a fantastic initiative and the dairy will work with The Udder Way to demonstrate the best way to get grass to glass.

“From 10am to 4pm each day we’ll have our award-winning milk available to taste for free straight from the tap,” Anne said.

“Anything we can do to create excitement and joy around where food comes from with little people, that’s the best thing we can possibly do - it’s about encouraging fun, nutrition and health.”

Also featured at the festival will be:

• The FaRM Project: How do plants reproduce? Understand the journey from seed to food. Learn how to identify, collect, prepare and store seeds for planting in the future.
• Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture:  Become an apple food detective. Explore the insects that help orchards thrive, learn how growers classify apple varieties, and uncover creative ways to use apples no longer at their freshest.
• Lenah Game Meats: Learn about the different climate impacts of your favourite protein. Match the jar representing carbon to protein sources, pick the species based on their fur and taste test local wallaby. 

City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said hosting the event showcased Launceston's commitment to enhancing the city's status as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and getting children engaged with food, nutrition and where food comes from. 

"As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, we know Launceston has a deep connection to food, and the way that it brings our community together,” he said.

“The mission the Sandro Demaio Foundation brings with the Little Food Festival was a natural fit for Launceston and we're proud to sponsor them to host this festival outside Melbourne for the first time in its history.” 

Little Food Festival Founder Dr Sandro Demaio said the festival translates big ideas about food, and the food system, health and protecting the planet into digestible activities for kids 

“When kids fall in love with the magic of food – how it’s grown, prepared and shared – they grow up ready to care for it, protect it, and champion it. And what we teach kids about good food, the food system and the environment today, creates the building blocks for what their habits will look like in the future," Dr Demaio said.