News & Notes

I thought it might be a nice way to end the week with a recap of a few things I’ve read about and in general found interesting on the local food front.

Local Food Dude featured as a Champion of Change
New Haven schools Director of Food Services Chef Tim Cipriano was featured this week on the White House’s “Champions of Change” website in recognition of his successful effort to introduce healthy and locally produced food into city schools. He is involved with Chefs Move to Schools, an initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign.

Bethel Officials Want To Start Downtown Farmers’ Market
Inspired by a hustling and bustling farmers’ market in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker is looking to start a farmers market on the front lawn of the Hurgin Municipal Center. He will formally present the idea to the selectmen for a vote in the near future and the hope is to have the market open in early June. Read the full article here.

Connecticut Farmer & Feast
Emily Brooks whom I consider a local sustainable food powerhouse has published a cookbook! Connecticut Farmer & Feast introduces readers to Connecticut’s agricultural bounty and Connecticut’s passionate farmers and producers. The book features more than 40 of Connecticut’s devoted farmers and producers who proudly produce Connecticut’s “locally grown” produce, meats, cheeses, and other food items featured in farm stands, farm markets, and top restaurants throughout the Nutmeg State. You can pre-order a signed copy of the book directly from Emily. The official book launch will be at the opening of the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market on June 5th from 11am-2pm.

Growing Sustainably In Connecticut
Listen to three local farmers discuss their connection to the soil at this is a free event on Tues. May 3rd at Norfield Grange in Weston. Farmers Dina Brewster (The Hickories), Annie Farrell (Millstone Farm) and John Holbrook (Holbrook Farm) will talk about their farming practices and the local food movement from a farmer’s perspective: ways to grow and raise it, how to distribute it to the community and why it matters. The panel moderator will be Analiese Paik of Fairfield Green Food Guide. There will be refreshments and a meet & greet at 6:30pm with things getting underway at 7:15pm. For more info contact phoebecole.smith@gmail.com.

Celebration of Connecticut Farms
The 11th Annual Celebration of Connecticut Farms will be Sunday, Sept. 11th at Jones Family Farms in Shelton, CT. If you go, you’ll enjoy dishes featuring ingredients from over 50 farms across the state and prepared by chefs from 24 of Connecticut’s best restaurants. Tickets to the Celebration are $150 each (with $75 of that being tax-deductible). To purchase tickets or request an invitation, visit CelebrationofCTFarms.org, or call 860-247-0202. Proceeds from the Celebration go to Connecticut Farmland Trust and help support the mission to preserve our state’s working farmland.