Geneva, City of Taste: a programme committed to healthy eating

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The City of Geneva has played an active role in the Semaine du Goût since 2010. This action aims to shed more light on restaurants that are committed to healthy eating while promoting high-quality regional craft products.

More broadly speaking, the municipality works in close collaboration with the canton and the associations to bring city-dwellers closer to the countryside while promoting sustainable food and local agriculture. Throughout the years, it has developed a genuine public policy in this field entitled Feed the City. The Foundation’s choice concerning taste therefore rewards a long-standing commitment. The City of Geneva is proud to be the flag-bearer for taste throughout the year. 

Committed thematic priorities

According to Alfonso Gomez, Administrative Councillor responsible for Sustainable Development, “The health and economic crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of local production, the fragility of the economic system and the need to change the predominant consumption model. The thematic priorities adopted by Geneva, City of Taste, are education with regard to taste, the broadest possible access to healthy and high-quality food and the link between food and the climate.”

The issues of promoting local production, territorial roots and support for the local economy will also be key aspects of this edition and will serve as a common theme under the banner “Territoire du Goût, Goût du Terroir” (The land of taste, a taste of the land).

Numerous partners for an ambitious programme

An ambitious programme has been developed by the steering committee which, in addition to the City of Geneva, comprises GENÈVE Terroir (OPAGE), Genève Tourisme, the Association genevoise pour la promotion du goût (AGPG), the Maison de l’alimentation MA-Terre, the State of Geneva (OCAN) and the Mouvement pour une agriculture paysanne et citoyenne (MAPC).

Supported by the SIG, the “Geneva, City of Taste” project has helped create close ties with a diverse network and close to 70 stakeholders have been consulted. Accordingly, the list of partners includes Slowfood, the Société des Cafetiers, Restaurateurs et Hôteliers de Genève, agricultural organisations, training institutes, institutions drawn from international Geneva and several municipal and state departments. Antonio Hodgers, State Councillor responsible for Agriculture recalls that, “In 2020, the Canton introduced the principle of food sovereignty, designed to nurture local smallholdings which are both profitable and diversified while providing healthy food products that meet the social and ecological expectations of the population. This project provides the ideal opportunity to reassert our collective commitment to the fact that food remains not only a pleasure but also a responsible act”. 

Decentralised activities

In spring, the activities are decentralised and intended for small groups. These events are compatible with the health situation and can be provided in digital format if necessary. They include, for example, culinary workshops and events organised at the Maison de l’alimentation MA-Terre and in different community facilities, calling on the collaboration of the local social outreach centres (ASP), as well as other specialist associations such as the Swiss Food Academy and the Fédération romande des consommateurs (FRC).

Starting in June, larger-scale public events focusing on conviviality and togetherness are on the menu. In particular, the public will be invited to the Refugee Food Festival, the Fête des Maraîchers (or market gardeners’ festival, formerly known as the Tomato Festival), the Rallye du Goût and other not-to-be-missed events of l’Automne du Goût including Festi'Terroir, the Month of Taste Competition and the Sustainable Food Forum. Everything has been designed to be compatible, if necessary, with an extension of the health restrictions beyond the month of June. 

Finally, the Geneva, City of Taste 2021 website serves as a showcase for all projects relating to local food, gourmet cuisine and healthy eating. It may well be maintained after 2021 as a common portal presenting the events organised in particular by GENÈVE Terroir, Genève Tourisme and the network of associations.

“Being forced to remain within our own borders last spring gave rise to a temporary change in behaviour. Numerous citizens discovered the notions of proximity and sustainability. We are making every effort to ensure that this change of tack observed in 2020 does not fall flat like a bad soufflé in 2021”, concludes Brigitte Turin, President of the Committee of the Association genevoise pour la promotion du goût (AGPG).