Year-Round Events Announced for Farm to Fork NC

Farm to Fork NC has announced the dates for 2018 events celebrating local foods in the Triangle region. For the last three years the events were held over a single weekend; however, this year’s Farm to Fork events celebrate the state’s year-round growing season with events spread throughout the year.

This year’s lineup begins with the Farm to Fork Picnic on Sunday, June 3, where some of the area’s best farmers and chefs are paired to create delectable bite-size dishes. Bon Appétit magazine called it “the country’s best all-you-can-eat feast.”

The event will take place on the Fearrington Village grounds, where dozens of acclaimed chefs, farmers, artisan producers and others will prepare dishes and beverages that highlight the season’s bounty.  The picnic will also feature fun activities for children, live music and more.

The celebration continues Sept. 16 with a pop-up dinner featuring Jacob Boehm of Snap Pea Underground & Catering. While specific details will not be announced until days before the event, Boehm will be cooking with seasonal ingredients provided by farm partners.

On December 6, the final event of the series takes place at Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill. Guest speaker John T. Edge, author of critically acclaimed The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South, is director of the influential Southern Foodways Alliance. This celebration of Southern food will be a sort of movable feast, with dishes prepared by six prominent chefs at different stations. Beverages from local craft makers will be featured, along with live music and merriment.

Farm to Fork NC is an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and co-hosted by CEFS, Breeze Farm and the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation Inc. The Farm to Fork Picnic began in 2007 to recognize Carlo Petrini and the Slow Food Movement and quickly became one of the most anticipated culinary events in the region.

Farm to Fork NC events not only celebrate the Triangle’s thriving local food community, they also benefit sustainable agriculture internship and apprenticeship programs at CEFS and the Breeze Farm Enterprise Incubator, providing hands-on training and mentorship to young and second-career farmers.

“With the average age of U.S. farmers nearing 60, training the next generation of farmers is critical to the future of our fresh and local food supply,” said Dr. Nancy Creamer, CEFS Director.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is a partnership of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CEFS develops and promotes just and equitable food and farming systems that conserve natural resources, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. For more information please visit www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

For more information or tickets for the 2018 Farm to Fork NC events, visit farmtoforknc.com