Letter to the Editor

Dear Friends and Supporters of Madison County Agriculture,

On behalf of Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, Cazenovia Equipment Company, Price Chopper, the Julie Falatico Band, Empire Brewery, Off the Path Media, Persaud Marketing, Chenango-Madison Bounty, and the Pride of NY, I invite you to participate in Madison County’s 2nd Annual Buy Local Week, August 17th through the 23rd.

Buy Local Week is an effort to showcase and promote the diversity of agriculture in Madison County, as well as to bridge the gap between farmer and consumer. We hope that you will participate in some or all of the week’s events (see below for event information). Don’t forget to purchase your tickets to the Fresh! Gala being held on Thursday, August 20th at Brick Farm in Cazenovia. Tickets can be purchased at the Price Chopper in Madison/Hamilton or Oneida as well as online: http://freshgala.eventbrite.com/ Also, please look for your Open Farm Day passport inserted in next week’s Mid-York weekly and Hi-Neighbor, or pick one up (starting on Friday, August 14th) at any Madison County Price Chopper or outside of the Wampsville DMV.

For more information, please visit our website: http://www.madisoncountyagriculture.com/buylocalweek/index.html

Event Details:

Buy Local Week kicks off with the Local Food Showcase – five restaurants were invited to prepare either a prix fix menu or an entrée item with all the ingredients sourced locally. Each day a different Madison County restaurant will take the spotlight and restaurant patrons can expect an epicurean delight.

Participating in the 2009 Local Food Showcase are:

Tuesday, August 18th: The Copper Turret – 17 W Main St, Morrisville |

Wednesday, August 19th: Zabroso – 170 Kenwood, Oneida | Chef: Ruben Lopez

Friday, August 21st: Circa – 76 Albany St, Cazenovia | Chef: Alicyn Hart

Saturday, August 22nd: the Colgate Inn – 1 Payne St, Hamilton | Chef: Kris Angle

Sunday, August 23rd: The Poolville Country Store – 1245 Earlville Road, Earlville | Chefs: Roger J. Foster & Charles E. Wilburn

Many of the participating chefs appeared on Bridge Street (channel 9) last week to promote the farms with which they work and to showcase their recipes. In case you missed the show, please visit: http://www.9wsyr.com/content/bridge_street/default.aspx

The local food showcase is a great way to taste the difference a few miles (or several thousand) can make, an opportunity to participate in a unique community initiative, and a way to champion our local farming economy.

Thursday August 20th is FRESH! The 2009 Buy Local Gala featuring a full tasting menu, a variety of local microbrews, music by the Julie Falatico Trio, and a silent auction. Commissioner Pat Hooker, Senator Dave Valesky, and Assemblyman Bill Magee will be on hand to show their support for Madison County Agriculture.

FRESH! promises to be a good time and will be held at Brick Farms in Cazenovia (5753 Rathbun Rd) on August 20th from 6.30 – 10.30. Tickets are $35 per person ($60 per couple) and $20 per person ($35 per couple) if you are a farmer. Please contact us for groups of 10 or more. Price includes all food and drink.

Buy Local Week culminates in Open Farm Day on Saturday August 22nd and this year 24 farms and 3 farmers’ markets are throwing open their doors offering a behind the scenes glimpse at what goes into the food you eat; additionally there are three farmers markets. There will be farm activities and demonstrations, farm animal petting, barn tours, farm-raised products for sale, samples to taste, and much more. Pick up your passport at any Madison County Price Chopper (Madison/Hamilton and Oneida), outside the Madison County DMV in Wampsville, or look for them as inserts in the Mid-York Weekly and Hi-Nieghbor and visit farms throughout Madison County.

Madison County Agriculture appreciates your support and hopes to see you at the week’s events. Please forward this email along -the more the merrier!

See you soon,

Becca Jablonski

Agricultural Economic Development Specialist

One Comment on "Letter to the Editor"

Dangerous Dan on Thu, 13th Aug 2009 8:36 am

I truly appreciate the excellence of reporting in this on line newspaper. We need a place to go to on line to learn more about the nitty-gritty of what transpires her in this area plus important regional and national issues.

Thank you! I especially appreciate the efforts of Martha

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Letter to the Editor

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