Music festivals aren’t just about the music, they are about the whole experience.  Part of that is finding tasty, healthy food to sustain you through the weekend.

Organic farming aims to produce 'safe, sustainable farming systems, producing healthy crops and livestock without causing damage to the environment.' It relies heavily on crop rotation and the use of recycled organic material such as animal manures. A very limited number of chemical or naturally occurring pesticides are used.

Organic is a term defined by EU law so the same rules apply in the UK as across Europe.  LodeStar music festivals go-ers will find a good range of organic food available.

Organic production is based on a modern scientific understanding of ecology and soil science, and it fully utilises appropriate technological developments and machinery.  So music festivals go-ers who insist on organic are at the cutting edge of food production and consumption.

You needn’t be veggie to go organic at music festivals, as a wide range of meat products are organic. Organic livestock receive a very high standard of welfare and are:

• given freedom to move around, socialise and go outdoors
• fed organic food appropriate to their needs
• given comfortable, spacious bedded lying areas
• given medicines only as required

For music festivals go-ers who’d rather bring along their own food, buying organic is getting easier.  Labels on food sold as 'organic' must indicate the organic certification body that the processor or packer is registered with. The labels must, at the minimum, include a code number that denotes the approved certification body.

It’s not always possible to make products entirely from organic ingredients, since not all ingredients are available in organic form. Manufacturers of organic food are permitted to use specific non-organic ingredients provided that organic ingredients make up at least 95% of the food.

Organic food at music festivals will have been through stringent tests before it arrives on your plate.  The Food Standards agency says ‘Organic certification bodies must appoint inspectors who are, for example, expected to visit farms and check that no fertilisers or pesticides have been used that are not approved for organic production, and that land has been farmed organically for the conversion period (normally two years) before food is sold as 'organic'.’

So when you’re doing your shopping lists ready for your summer of music festivals, think organic.

The LodeStar Festival looks forward to welcoming you in 2007.  For more information contact info@lodestarfestival.com