Timo Santala takes over as Project Manager of the City of Helsinki's Food Culture Strategy in early November as predecessor Ville Relander, leading the strategy work since 2011, starts a new job as a restaurateur.

Santala has gathered years of experience as a food, travel and wine journalist-photographer, in addition to being a passionate food lover. He is also known as the driving force of the Restaurant Day movement, director of We Love Helsinki, as well as a specialist in communal events.

"This is a great opportunity to get to develop Helsinki together with citizens, food professionals and the City. It has been encouraging to see how the city has opened up more space for ideas and actions. It is inspiring to jump onboard to push Helsinki into a city that makes things possible and invites everyone to go ahead", Santala says.

During his position as head of the food culture strategy, Ville Relander has initiated, for example, the Streat Helsinki street food festival, and actively developed the Abattoir area. Relander is pleased with Santala's appointment.

"The City is more and more interesting as a working environment for creative types dealing with urban culture, and this makes me proud and happy. I am now passing over the lead to one of the most idea-filled and inspiring characters in Helsinki. It is important that the project manager is an openminded communications professional with networks, a view and a dream", Relander praises.

In charge of appointing the new head of the food culture strategy, the City of Helsinki's Wholesale Food Market director Timo Taulavuori believes in bold choices.

"We were looking for a person who is able to develop food culture from a new viewpoint with passion and enthusiasm to make Helsinki into a happier and more attractive city. I believe we found exactly the right person for the job", Taulavuori sums up.

The cornerstones of Helsinki's food culture strategy are the enlivening of the markets and market halls, boosting urban farming and promoting composting and environmental responsibility, an organic food programme for children, and developing the Abattoir area. The task of the project manager of the strategy is to coach, inspire and help city offices in reaching set goals and to promote food culture development in Helsinki.

Timo Santala has been awarded for his work with, for example, the Finland Prize of the Ministry of Education and Culture and twice with the City of Helsinki Cultural Act of the Year.

More about Helsinki's Food Culture Strategy
www.helsinkifoodism.com
facebook.com/helsinkifoodism

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