Thousands of people fought the bad weather to attend a special event held to keep awareness of a proposed quarry alive.

Chefs from across the country gathered Sunday in Melancthon, where they transformed local produce into gourmet dishes.

Thousands of people took part in Foodstock, a food festival designed to raise awareness about the proposed excavation of a quarry in the area north of Shelburne.

Protester Angela Rose says the planned quarry would interfere with the water table in the entire region.

Highland Companies says the area has one of the largest deposits of high quality limestone in the province.

Natural Resources Minister John Wilkinson said last month that the quarry will have to undergo an environmental assessment before it can be approved.

Highland says the site was selected so that aggregate operations could be conducted in an environmentally, socially and economically responsible manner.