Camana Bay, Grand Cayman (Friday 19 April 2013): There are much more than simply health benefits to buying fresh, homegrown produce at Camana Bay’s Weekly Farmers’ Market. On Wednesday 24 April, celebrate Mother Nature’s bounty; the farmers and ranchers responsible for producing it; and its positive impact on our Islands at a special Earth Day Farmers’ Market and support “Eating Locally and Living Sustainably” in the Cayman Islands.

According to the Worldwatch Institute, our food travels an average of 1,500 to 2,500 miles, journeying from where it is grown to where it’s processed, packaged and warehoused, and for Cayman residents and visitors, then shipped overseas and transported to the local supermarkets and finally our kitchens. Choosing locally-grown produce not only leads to substantial savings in fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale; it also supports Cayman’s farmers, reduces our impact on the environment and increases our ability as a nation to feed ourselves. Plus it’s delicious!

At the Market Street Pavilion, located on the corner of Forum Lane and Market Street, sample a delicious range of fresh produce and homemade goods from a host of local vendors. From sausages, banana bread and pepper jelly to local crafts, plants and produce, the flavour is uniquely Caymanian. Talk to each farmer about their produce and learn more about the environmental benefits of local food and small-scale farming, as well as the impressive health and safety benefits, and the economic benefits to our local community.

Don’t miss Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink’s executive chef and lionfish culler extraordinaire, Thomas Tennant, who will join the farmers at 2:30pm for a local lionfish demonstration. Lionfish recently emerged as an invasive species in the Cayman Islands, threatening the ecological balance of life in our coral reefs. Since then, Chef Thomas has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at controlling the endemic. Today lionfish is a regular fixture on the restaurant’s seasonally-changing menu, and thanks to the chef, a popular Cayman delicacy. Watch as Chef Thomas handles, prepares and cooks the small spiny fish then sample one of the restaurant’s award-winning lionfish dishes.

Budding environmentalists can join the Central Caribbean  Marine Institute (CCMI) on Saturday 27 April for a special Story & Craft Time at Books & Books for the launch of their new educational children’s storybook, Tuke the Specialist Turtle. The story follows Tuke, a young green sea turtle who is struggling to find his way

in one of the most extraordinary places on earth. After being ridiculed by his fellow marine creatures for being too small for his shell, the adolescent turtle leaves his coral reef home in Little Cayman in search of a world he hopes will appreciate him. But when he befriends a group of CCMI researchers, Tuke suddenly realises how important he is to his home.

Written and illustrated by Chowder Inc., Tuke the Specialist Turtle is a story about growth, responsibility and the importance of protecting the special places around us that need our help. Through support from the Joanna Clarke Excellence in Education Award, CCMI will print several hundred copies of the story and distribute them to primary schools across the Cayman Islands.

An environmental movement founded in the 1970s, today more than one billion people participate in Earth Day-related activities, making it one of the largest civic observances in the world. “More and more people in Cayman are taking part in environmental-led initiatives than ever before,” says Chip Ogilvie, Senior Manager of Operations & Maintenance at Camana Bay, and Dart’s Green Team leader. “From the Departments of Tourism and Environment’s Living Green Fair and the Chamber of Commerce’s Earth Day Roadside Clean- Up to regular farmers’ markets and a thriving Slow Food movement, finally ‘being green’ is moving from the fringes to the mainstream in Cayman.”

At Camana Bay, it’s even easier to go green – whether you live, work, dine or play in the Town Centre. Initiatives like the Weekly Farmers’ Market and the Town’s recycling and energy-saving efforts are a good example of how simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. “Our commitment to the environment extends far beyond one day,” explains Ogilvie. “We’re thrilled that Cayman is devoting an entire month to sustainability and green responsibility – and proud to be a part of the ‘green’ movement.”

Camana Bay’s Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday from 12-7pm on the corner of Market Street and Forum Lane. On Wednesday 8 May, the Farmers’ Market will move to a new location adjacent to Jessie’s Juice Bar.

For more information on Camana Bay’s Earth Day events, visit camanabay.com.  To keep up to date with the latest happenings, like Camana Bay Fan Page on Facebook and follow @CamanaBay on Twitter.

Photo Caption: Next month, Camana Bay’s Weekly Farmers’ Market moves to a new location on the north side of the Solaris Avenue Parking Lot, adjacent to Jessie’s Juice Bar.