For Immediate Release June 2007 

Contact: Martin C. Langeveld                                 

802-254-2407

langeveldvt@comcast.net

Strolling of the Heifers and Vermont Fresh Network To Host Feast on the Farm Series in July and August

Brattleboro – The Strolling of the Heifers and the Vermont Fresh Network (VFN) are joining forces as part of their drive to encourage the public to increase their consumption of locally grown food with two upcoming events. On Tuesday, July 10, the organizations will host “Strawberry Feast on the Farm” at Lilac Ridge Farm in Brattleboro, Vermont, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. The event will feature desserts, including strawberry shortcake and strawberry tarts, as well as strawberries paired with chocolate fondue and Vermont goat cheese. All of the desserts will be made with Lilac Ridge’s organic strawberries.  On Tuesday, August 14, 2007, SOTH and VFN will host “Barbecue Feast on the Farm,” at Sweet Tree Farm in Dummerston,Vermont, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm. That event also will highlight local produce including beef barbecue, hamburgers, corn, salad and delicious summer desserts. Sweet Tree Farm specializes in grass fed beef. Both events will feature a farm tour.

The Stroll's Executive Director, Orly Munzing said that the events are a new aspect of her organization’s Buy Local campaign, which has sought to raise awareness about the importance of buying locally through a print advertising campaign. “The more people know about what wonderful fresh produce farms in our area have to offer, the more apt they are to add more locally grown food to their shopping list.” The Riverview Café’s chef and owner, Tristan Toleno said the events will give people a chance to enjoy locally grown food on the farm it’s from “Our goal is to create a memorable, family-oriented farm experience,” he noted. The Riverview Café, which has been a VFN member since the restaurant opened in 2000, will cater both culinary celebrations.

The non-profit VFN has worked for over a decade to create partnerships between farmers and chefs in order to increase the amount of locally grown food offered by Vermont restaurants and other food purveyors.  An increasing number of local organizations and farms are VFN members. Area restaurants and organizations that are members include Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Deerhill Inn and The Putney Inn. Farms that are members include Old Athens Farm in Westminster; Lilac Ridge in Brattleboro; and Miller Orchard Farm, Scott Farm and Sweet Tree Farm in Dummerston.

Both “Feast on the Farm” events will feature entertainment courtesy of the Brattleboro Food Co-op. Clown Robin Zegge will also be at both events to entertain children. Organic Valley also will contribute food.

Advance tickets to each event are: $10 for adults, $6 for children (under 12). Maximum cost per family: $30. Tickets at the door are: $12 adults, $8 children. Maximum cost per family: $35. Tickets may be purchased at the Brattleboro Food Co-op and Vermont Artisan Designs on Main Street. Both events will have a raffle with prizes that include gift certificates to local restaurants. For more information, contact the Brattleboro Co-op at: 257-0236 ext 121. 

The mission of the Strolling of the Heifers is to promote awareness of the importance of agriculture in our daily lives and to raise money to fund educationally oriented agricultural programs for youth. Over the past 6 years, the non-profit has raised over $120,000 to underwrite educational programs.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS. PRIMARY MEDIA SPONSORS: Brattleboro Reformer; WKVT GOLD: Hood/Booth Brothers Dairy - Official Milk of Strolling of the Heifers; Holstein Association; SoverNet, USA; Toyota; Turkey Hill; WTSA SILVER: Aubochon Hardware; Brattleboro Food Co-op; C&S Wholesale Grocers; Cabot Cooperative Creamery; Horizon Organic/The Organic Cow; Organic Valley; Price Chopper; Redex Industries/Udderly Smooth; Walgreens; WCAX-TV BRONZE: Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce; Brattleboro Museum & Art Center; Brattleboro Retreat Healthcare; Brattleboro Savings & Loan; Costume Ladies; Durand Ford Toyota; Green Mountain Tent Rentals; Hannaford Superstore; Key Bank; Mount Snow; New Chapter; Newman's Own; Stacy Subaru; Stuart Communications; The Rutland Herald; Trust Company of Vermont; United Natural Foods Inc.; Vermont Cheese Council; Windham Foundation CRYSTAL: 101 The Fox Radio; Building A Better Brattleboro; Chelsea Royal Diner; Chittenden Bank; Foard Panel; G.S. Precision; H&R Block; Hampton Inn; Home Depot; Keats Inc.; The Keene Sentinel; Leader Distribution; The Marina; New Holland; The Putney School; Riverview Café; U.S. Cellular/21st Century Cellular; Staples; Stoneyfield Farm; University of Vermont Extension; Vermont Country Store; Vermont Department of Agriculture; Vermont Natural Water; Windham County Dairy Promotion; World Learning; Woodstock Farms; WRSI/The River; Zinn Graphics PATRON: A Candle In The Night; American Flatbread; Antioch University New England; Arthur Whitcomb; Best Energy Saving Technologies; Brattleboro Chrysler, Jeep, & Dodge; Brunelle & Son Construction; BRW Electronics/ Radio Shack; Building Green Inc.; Capers Restaurant; Cockadoodle DOO; Cooke Family Realty; Co-operative Insurance; Farmers Diner/Vermont Smoke & Cure; Fleming Oil Company; Free Lunch Media Productions; Gallery Walk; Garelick Farms; Grafton Village Cheese Co; Holiday Inn Express; Hooker-Dunham Gallery & Theater; Howard Printing; Landmark College; Leader Distribution System, Inc; Marlboro Graduate College Center; Mary Meyer Mfg Co.; Merrick Pet Care; New England Natural Bakers; Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub; O’Connor Law Office; Perkins Home Center; Putney Food Co-op; Red Roof Inn; Save The Corporations from Themselves; SEVCA; Silver Forest; Southern Vermont Cable; Spring Tree Maple Products/Specialty Brands of America; Suburban Propane; Taylor for Flowers; Triple T Trucking; The Valley Advocate; Verizon Wireless Zone; Vermont Agricultural Business Education Center; Vermont Agricultural Credit Corp; Vermont Bread/Rudy’s Organic Bakery; Vermont Land Trust; Wal-Mart; Windham Wines; Zinn Graphics SUPPORTING: Abbiati Monuments; Agri-Mark, Inc; Agway; Anon’s; Banknorth Vermont; Bart's Homemade; Best Inn; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont; Brown & Roberts Hardware; Brown Family Farm; Burton Car Wash; Cersosimo Lumber Co and Cersosimo Industries; Clear Solutions Inc.; Colonial Motel & Spa; Creamery Bridge Candles; David Manning; Inc.; Efficiency Vermont; Fireworks Restaurant; Friends of the Sun; Gale, Corum, Mabie, Cook & Prodan Law Firm; GPI Construction, Inc.; Green Mountain Spinnery; Hertz & Lloyd Attorneys at Law; Kristensen, Cummings, Phillips & Carol PC; Latchis Hotel; Mini Melts Dots of Ice Cream; Moo Dooers/VNAP; Newfane Country Store; Newton Business Products; Northland Downey Insurance Group; The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co. Inc; One Stop Country Pet Supply; Peebles; Perkins Home Center; Peter Havens; Pieciak & Co; Inc.; The Putney Inn; Real Green Goods; The Richards Group; River Valley Credit Union; Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters; The Sandri Companies; Solar Source; Thai Gardens; True Value & VS Variety Store; USA Solar Store; Vermont Artisan Designs; Vermont Natural Coatings; Vermont Veterinary Medical Assn.; Vermont Vinyl; Vermont Water Buffalo; VT-NH Veterinary Clinic; Windham Family Vision Care; The Windham Solid Waste Management District; Winter Panel Corp.; Women's Agricultural Network; Woodman Athletics; Yankee Farm Credit; Zephyr Designs SPONSORS: Adagio Trattoria; Adivasi; Altiplano; A.L. Tyler & Sons, Inc.; Amy’s Bakery Arts Café; At the Oasis; Bast Investment Co; Beadniks; Berkley & Veller/Greenwood Country Realtors; Black River Produce; Book Cellar; Borter’s Jewelry Studio; Brattleboro Haulage; Brattleboro Area Realty; Brattleboro Veterinary Clinic; Brooks House Realty; Campbell & Boyd Ins. Services; Inc; Carley’s Florist; Creative Woods Furniture Inc.; Crispe & Crispe Law Firm; Crofter Moving & Storage; Dalem’s Chalet; Inc.; The Dorner Agency, Inc.; Edward Jones & Company; ERA The Masiello Group/Stepping Stone Real Estate; Fenton Family Dealership; Fitts, Olson & Giddings; Fitz, Vogt & Associates at World Learning/SIT; Friends of Brooks Memorial Library; Green Mountain Bovine & Equine; India Palace Restaurant; J Coleman & Co Architects; James M. Puls & Associates Certified Public Accountants; John Rocray Law Firm; Lawton Floor Design; Linden Gardens; Masiello Employment Agency; Merrill Lynch; Merrill Gas Co; Inc.; Miller Brothers-Newton; Inc.; Nassau Broadcasting Partners, WHDQ/WZLF/WXLF/ WWOD/WCFR/WNHV/WSTV; New England Coffee; The New England House; Océ North America Document Printing Systems; Oly’s Plumbing & Heating; Outer Limits Health Club; Pinnacleview Equipment Inc.; Potter Steward Law Offices; Putney Road Market; Shin La Restaurant; Stevens & Associates; T.J. Buckley; Thomas M. French Attorney At Law; Verde for Home & Garden; Vermont Butter and Cheese Co; Walker Farm; Windham Flowers; WW Building Supply; Wyman Agency.

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