It
was early evening out at the Maryland State Line off 83 North where I met
numerous local, sustainable farmers at Oak Spring Farm; all of them are part of
the food hub www.ChesapeakeFarmtoTable.com. The evening titled Fall Harvest Feast
had chefs, caterers and restaurateurs enjoying the bounty of Chesapeake Farm to
Table food hub
farmers, ranchers, beekeepers, and dairies. Restaurateurs and chefs had round
name tags and the farmers were square, all in the desire to open dialog between
the two. Even the seating for dinner had restaurateurs sitting across from the
farmers to learn, share and commiserate.
On
that evening, chefs from Magdalena, Arômes, Towson Tavern, White Oak Tavern,
Silver Queen Café, Turn House conversed with Charlottestown Farm,
Rettland Farms, Shepherd’s Manor Creamery, Bee Friendly Apiary, Two Boots Farm,
Rastafarmi and many more. If you go to www.chesapeakefarmtotable.com
you will recognize numerous Baltimore area restaurateurs, caterers, and markets
that have opted for local, sustainable foods that through Chesapeake Farm to
Table are harvested-to-order when ordered online. Harvested-to-order means the
produce has not been sitting in a warehouse for days instead one gets fresher,
longer shelf life, wholesome products for all to enjoy.
Why
the food hub? These small producers
under normal circumstances would not have the wherewithal, time to sell and
deliver to the restaurants. Chesapeake Farm to Table, owned by Calvert's Gift
Farm’s Jack and Beckie Gurleys, the 2nd certified organic farm in
Maryland, have been and are mentors for Future Harvest, an organization
that trains future farmers. Many participants in the Chesapeake Farm to Table
Food Hub who sell produce have evolved from Future Harvest.
Coming to your home soon in the next couple of weeks is ChesapeakeFarmtoHome.com, this same
quality, fresh, local produce, honey, meats and dairy items will be available
for the home consumer, harvested to your order and initially picked up at the Catonsville Cooperative Market or Culinary Architecture Partners with
a future eye to home delivery. This is not a CSA, with ChesapeakeFarmtoHome.com you
will go to the website and pick what you
want from what is available for harvest. There will be a minimum purchase
of $40 to $45 (they are finalizing that detail). These will be the same produce, meats, dairy,
and honey, you enjoy from our favorite local restaurants like Woodberry
Kitchen, Gertrudes, The Corner Pantry, The Manor Tavern, Clavel,and
many more.
Mark
your calendars to come back to www.ChesapeakeFarmtoHome.com
in a couple weeks for greater detail and product availability for ordering for
your home.
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