"What the heck is this and how do I cook it?" Those were the words overheard at the Farmers' Market that inspired Gail Brill to start a Festival. Seeing the disconnect between what area farmers where bringing to the market and the consumers lack of knowledge about what and how to cook it, became the inspiration for the Farm 2 Fork Festival, now in it's 6th year.
Gail is the Founding Director of the Adirondack Green Circle, a local group that focuses on advocacy for small scale agriculture and inspiring sustainable living practices in the Tri-Lakes region of the Adirondacks.
To best bridge that gap between farmer produce and consumer, it was decided early on to have a tasting at the festival and recruit home cooks that would create a dish using produce from the market. We wanted to make the recipes accessible to the areas families. The first year we had roasted beets at the tasting and the farmers sold all their beets that day. That, in a nutshell, is what the Festival is all about.
We also made some other decisions. As an environmental group that was keenly aware of the waste produced at such an event, we decided to use only real flatware, no plastic or "green" corn starch flatware. Our research showed that "green" flatware is only compostable in an industrial compost, something we don't have in our region. At least not yet. We scoured area yard sales to secure the flatware we would need to feed 300 people at the festival. When you buy a tasting ticket, you get a compostable paper plate and a real fork. We have 5 gallon buckets placed throughout the festival were the forks can be tossed after they are used. After the Festival, Nonna Fina, a local restaurant, washes all the flatware for us. Thank you Nonna Fina for your continued support!
Additionally, we decided we did not want any products containing high-fructose corn syrup, that meant, no sodas allowed. Instead, we created an "Artisan Beverage Bar", which is a part of the tasting, where you can try such drinks as Switchel, Shrubs and even Kombucha.
Since it's inception, the Festival has grown and for the last 2 years has partnered with TasteNY, which has allowed local distillers, vintners and brewers to join us. It's a great day to celebrate all the local goodness that surrounds our region. We hope to see you there!
Gail is the Founding Director of the Adirondack Green Circle, a local group that focuses on advocacy for small scale agriculture and inspiring sustainable living practices in the Tri-Lakes region of the Adirondacks.
To best bridge that gap between farmer produce and consumer, it was decided early on to have a tasting at the festival and recruit home cooks that would create a dish using produce from the market. We wanted to make the recipes accessible to the areas families. The first year we had roasted beets at the tasting and the farmers sold all their beets that day. That, in a nutshell, is what the Festival is all about.
We also made some other decisions. As an environmental group that was keenly aware of the waste produced at such an event, we decided to use only real flatware, no plastic or "green" corn starch flatware. Our research showed that "green" flatware is only compostable in an industrial compost, something we don't have in our region. At least not yet. We scoured area yard sales to secure the flatware we would need to feed 300 people at the festival. When you buy a tasting ticket, you get a compostable paper plate and a real fork. We have 5 gallon buckets placed throughout the festival were the forks can be tossed after they are used. After the Festival, Nonna Fina, a local restaurant, washes all the flatware for us. Thank you Nonna Fina for your continued support!
Additionally, we decided we did not want any products containing high-fructose corn syrup, that meant, no sodas allowed. Instead, we created an "Artisan Beverage Bar", which is a part of the tasting, where you can try such drinks as Switchel, Shrubs and even Kombucha.
Since it's inception, the Festival has grown and for the last 2 years has partnered with TasteNY, which has allowed local distillers, vintners and brewers to join us. It's a great day to celebrate all the local goodness that surrounds our region. We hope to see you there!
