6th annual Farm 2 Fork Festival to feature Adirondack Mediterranean menu

SARANAC LAKE — Home cooks will serve up a diverse array of farm to table dishes at the sixth annual Farm 2 Fork Festival.

This year’s menu features an Adirondack Mediterranean theme. The festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Saranac Lake’s Riverside Park.

A collaboration of the Adirondack Green Circle and the AuSable Valley Grange, the festival’s mission is to expand support of local foods and farms and promote food awareness in the northern Adirondacks.

“Our local farmers are critical to the region’s economic vitality and overall well being,” said Natasha Bristol, a member of the festival’s organizing committee. “Farm 2 Fork’s goal is to showcase the bounty our farmers produce in a fun, accessible way. The recipes that our home cooks share are easy to replicate and, as always, consist almost entirely of local ingredients.”

Farm 2 Fork is proud to once again partner with Taste NY, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s program, run by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to highlight the quality, diversity, and economic impact of food and beverages produced throughout New York State. This year’s Taste NY vendors include Gristmill Distillers (Keene), ADK Bloody Mary Tonic (Tupper Lake), Forever Wild Beverage Co. (Lake Placid), Nine Pin Cider Work (Albany) and many more local beverage companies.

The festival’s marquee attraction is a colorful, diverse lunch featuring food prepared by home cooks. Tasting tickets cost $15 and include hand-cranked ice cream, pickle bar, and sips from the artisan beverage bar. Festival goers will be encouraged to “graze” at the home cook stations, rather than line up like past years.

With Hobofest taking place at Riverside Park on Sept. 6, Farm 2 Fork will preview one of the following day’s acts: Matt Heckler of West Saugerties. Heckler will bring his brand of Romanian gypsy music to the stage starting at noon, and will be joined by ADK Hot Club, a gypsy jazz trio consisting of Alex Marklund and Bobby Davis on guitar, with vocals by Stephanie Sears, who also plays clarinet.

This year’s festival includes a food art competition, face painting by the Saranac Lake High School Green Team, and vendors and informational booths stationed by local producers and organizations, including the Essex Farm Institute.

The Saranac Lake Village Farmers’ Market runs throughout the day; visitors are encouraged to purchase goods from vendors and try some of the day’s recipes. Additionally, Saranac Lake’s lively downtown is just a short walk from Riverside Park.

This year’s festival is sponsored by Taste NY, Paul Smith’s College, Casella, Prime Lending and Ace Hardware. North Country Public Radio is media sponsor for the event.

For festival updates, visit www.farm2forkfestival.com or visit our Facebook page, Farm 2 Fork Festival in Saranac Lake.

For more information about the Farm 2 Fork Festival, please contact Chris Morris at (518) 524-4320 or chrjmorris@gmail.com.

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