Enuff with the Strawberries, how about them BLUE berries?

Celebrate the blue season at Verrill Farm in Concord this Saturday, July 19th with their annual Blueberry Pancake Breakfast! Explore the farm while you're there, and indulge yourself with some of their other sustainably grown local produce!

Cost is $6.50 per person, which includes the pancakes, locally made maple syrup, sausage and a drink. Event runs from 9am until noon.

More details can be found on their WEBSITE

Cheese Tasting & Movie in Somerville

Plans next Wednesday, July 16th from 7:00 to 9:00PM?

Join Boston Localvores and the Growing Center for a 'potluck' local cheese & accompaniment tasting - and then a viewing of 'The Future of Food' by Deborah Koons Garcia. This incredible & very timely film "...examines the disturbing issues surrounding the rapidly increasing corporate domination of our food supply.'

They are asking attendees to bring along a favorite local cheese and/or bread, fruit, jam, etc to share with the group. More info can be found here: BOSTON LOCALVORES.

Plans this Saturday?

It has come to fruition! Our friends to the North, Slow Food Seacoast, are having their annual potluck picnic at Tuckaway Farm in Lee, NH.

Christened 'Down on the Farm,' there will be farm tours & farm animal visits, fishing, kid's games, a wild edibles walk, summer greens tastings and an incredible buffet of local foods provided by attendees such as yourself...

They ask for a $3 donation and a dish to share for about 12 people. More information can be found on their website: SLOW FOOD SEACOAST

Another Slow Food Farm Picnic - north, this time!

For those of you located north of Boston who couldn't make it all the way down to Tiverton for our great event last Sunday, I have another option for you.

Our friends in New Hampshire, Slow Food Seacoast, are planning their annual picnic for July 13th in Lee. This will mark two years that they have been in existence as a convivium.... A great reason to celebrate!

They are planning a daytime picnic (1 to 3pm) at Tuckaway Farm in Lee. If you're interested in getting involved in the planning, or would like more information, email Jenny Isler at jennyjennyi@yahoo.com.

More information about their group and what other things they are up to can be found here: SLOW FOOD SEACOAST

Join Russ Cohen to discuss Michael Pollan

Wild Foods guru Russ Cohen is joining the Trustees of Reservations in celebrating the 'Honey Moon' tomorrow evening (Wednesday June 18th) at Appleton Farms in Ipswich.

They will be gathering for a potluck dinner and a discussion of Michael Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.

The event begins at 6:00pm and is free - just bring a salad or main dish and your preferred beverage. They'll provide insightful discussion and dessert!

Preregister by calling 978-921-1944 X8815 or emailing needucation@ttor.org.

Family Fun @ Drumlin Farms this Sunday

From 9am to 5pm this coming Sunday, June 15th - Drumlin Farms in Lincoln along with Mass Audubon is hosting a fun day of family activities. Perfect for a Father's Day outing (before heading down to the Slow Food Farmers Dinner later that afternoon, of course!).

They've got all sort of special programs planned through the day for kids to learn about pigs and foxes and chickens - and even the importance of Afternoon Chores! (hmmm, maybe a little training?)

Check out their website for more information: DRUMLIN FARM

Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids and pick-your-own strawberries will be available for purchase!

Westport Rivers Winery goes GREEK this Saturday

Westport River's Long Acre House Wine & Food Education Center is hosting a wonderful looking 'fiesta' this Saturday afternoon - they are bringing chef Paul Delios (former owner of Meze Estiatorio in Charlestown) down to the winery to present an amazing Greek meal.

Beginning at 5:30pm, start off with a tour of the vineyard with owner Bill Russell, and then retire to the table for four courses ranging from roasted feta, watermelon & fennel salad through a pork tenderloin all the way to a Greek olive oil cake. Yum!

Cost is $80 per person, call ahead to reserve: 508-636-3423, or visit their website and purchase online:www.westportrivers.com/events-index.htm

Breakfast with Ted Turner?

Wednesday, June 11
8:30am breakfast, 9:00am program
Institute of Contemporary Art
100 Northern Ave, Boston
$30 (benefits the MA Rest Assoc Educational Foundation Scholarship Fund)

The MA Restaurant Association is staging a breakfast & discussion next week with Ted Turner and our very own Todd English entitled "The Green Restaurant Revolution." They're hoping to bring folks together to discuss progress being made in the hospitality industry to promote sustainability and environmental concerns.

A link to the invitation, more information and registration is here: http://www.marestaurantassoc.org/ted_turner.html

Maybe if we're lucky Todd will cook up some buffalo sausages from Ted's farms?? :-)

Comedy for the Farmers Markets this Thursday!

The markets are slowly opening around the region and the FMFM needs your support! They work hard (& pay the city lots of money!) in order to provide space and administrative help to farmers so that THEY can in turn provide US with fabulous local food.

FMFM is tempting your belly in a different way this Thursday evening in Arlington, with a family friendly comedy show -- with promises of lots of laughs that will SURELY work up your appetite!

Hardy Har Harvest
local food, local fun
An evening of family friendly comedy
at the Regent Theater in Arlington
Thursday, June 5 at 7pm
Comedy featuring
Jimmy Dunn and Tony V

Tickets $10-$20
Proceeds to benefit Mass Farmers Markets

Check out the Regent Theatre website for ticket purchasing & more information: www.regenttheatre.com/events/hardy.htm, or call them at 781-646-4849.

Boston Veg Society happenings

Hang with the BVS folks both Sunday AND Monday this weekend, if you can spare the time!

Sunday, they are offering another cooking class with chef Didi Emmons titled 'Summer Favorites' -- she's cookin' up some great recipes to teach, like Portobello Kasha 'Burgers' and a Grape Almond Gazpacho. Yum! Class is at 3:45pm at the Haley House Cafe in Roxbury and costs $27.

Follow up your new-found skills by relaxing and letting someone ELSE cook - say, maybe, chef Amie Swanson of Veggie Planet? Monday evening at 6:30pm, BVS is hosting a special dinner at Veggie Planet in Harvard Square of four vegan courses prepared using the freshest and most local ingredients possible... all for a reasonable $27!

Check out the Boston Vegetarian Society website for more information and to RSVP: www.BostonVeg.org

upcoming NOFA classes!

The Northeast Organic Farming Association is offering two classes next weekend covering WILDLY different ends of the spectrum...

Saturday May 24th in Jamaica Plain at 21st Century Foods, Rudy Canale will be teaching the skills necessary to make your own TOFU and TEMPEH. Workshop runs from 10am to 12:30 and is $32 per person.

If you're not so much into the vegetarian thing, try this one on for size: on Sunday May 25th, you can travel to Verrill Farm in Concord and learn more about raising CHICKENS for EGGS and MEAT from Pete Lowy and Jen Hashley of Jen & Pete's Backyard Birds. This workshop runs from 1 to 5PM, and the cost is $36 per person.

Contact NOFA at www.nofamass.org for more information and to sign up.

May is busy around here!

People are definitely coming out of winter hibernation and it's reflected in a number of great events. The local area is full of food-related happenings!

Right here in the city, this Friday, May 9th at 6:00PM, Haley House Cafe in Roxbury is showing the movie 'The Price of Sugar' followed by a Caribbean meal with dessert. The film is narrated by Paul Newman, and follows Father Hartley, as he organizes Haitian sugar cane workers on a Dominican Republic sugar plantation to fight for their basic human rights. Tickets are $25 all inclusive and can be purchased here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/34312
The following evening, Saturday May 10th from 4:00 to 7:00PM, Haley House is hosting their annual fundraiser. This silent auction and wine tasting will be held at the Soup Kitchen (corner of Dartmouth & Montgomery Street in the South End) Check out their website for more info: http://www.haleyhouse.org/

And if you happen to reside (or be traveling) North, South, or West, we have options for you, too!

Thursday May 15th @ 7:00PM, the Hamilton Wenham community House will be showing the film 'Future of Food,' an interesting exploration into genetically modified foods. Andrew Rodgers, manager of Green Meadows Farm (who spoke on our panel at the Farmer John movie last month) will be introducing the film and then answering questions afterward. Check out the film here: http://www.thefutureoffood.com/ and more info on the Community House here: http://communityhouse.org/index.htm. The showing is free to all.

Down South? How about a few events at the Westport Rivers Winery? This coming Saturday May 10th, they are hosting a two hour (1:00 to 3:00PM) kickoff to the summer season of the Coastal Wine Trail. Tickets are $35 - taste wines from all the local wineries, as well as bites from local food producers.
And the next week, Saturday, May 17th from 6:00 to 8:30pm, they are hosting an 'Early Summer Wine & Cheese Dinner' which includes a tour of the vineyard and a luscious four course meals with wines to match. Tickets are $75 and must be purchased in advance. Get information and tickets to both events by phone (508-636-3423 ext 2) or online: http://www.westportrivers.com/ourwine-index.htm.

And last, but certainly not least, let's go West! Monday, May 19th, the Earthwatch Insitutte, Mass Audubon and Debra's Natural Gourmet are bringing in John Carroll, a professor of Environmental Conservation at UNH to speak about the use of oil for food production. He'll be speaking three times throughout the day, at three different locations - noon at the Earthwatch Institute, 3pm in Sharon, and 7pm in Lincoln. Given the importance of the subject matter, hopefully one of them works for you! Check out these websites for more information and directions: http://www.earthwatch2.org/sustainability/ or http://www.massaudubon.org/drumlin

Three Cooking & Learning Opportunities

A few area cooking classes coming up SOON that we thought you should know about!

First, Didi Emmons and the Boston Vegetarian Society is teaming up again for a class this Saturday (May 3rd) in the evening focusing on cooking up a couple of 'alternative' grains; quinoa, millet, and spelt.
Cost is $49 which includes the class & a delicious dinner with a glass of wine, and will be held at the Haley House Bakery & Cafe in Roxbury.
Find more information here: www.BostonVeg.org

Also, Carlha Vickers and the folks at Ole Restaurant are staging two more fabulous Mexican cooking classes - one on Tuesday May 6th and the last one two weeks later on May 20th.
$50 per person for the class & meal (drinks available for an extra charge) at Ole Mexican Grill, 11 Springfield St, in Cambridge.
The class they offered a few weeks ago SOLD OUT, so definitely get in touch with Carlha soon! carlha@verizon.net

For Fans of Ian Cheney

For those people who enjoyed King Corn, which we screened back in February, the star & filmmaker, Ian Cheney has a new film out! I received an email from him the other day with the following information:

"Our most recent film, The Greening of Southie, premieres at the Independent Film Festival of Boston the weekend of April 26-27. The film chronicles the construction of Boston's first "LEED Gold" residential green building -- it's a funny, poignant and insightful story about trying to build the city of tomorrow...today.

Showtimes! (Get your tickets ahead of time at www.iffboston.org!)
Sat., April 26, 1pm at the Somerville Theater in Davis Square (900 seats)
Sun., April 27 11:30am at Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline (450 seats)

The theaters are big, and we're expecting quite a crowd -- hundreds of local men and women worked on the building, so it should be a star-studded audience! We're also offering a free DVD to anyone who wears their hard-hat to the film. The Sundance Channel and the Macallen building's developer, Tim Pappas, will be hosting a party nearby after the Saturday screening. Details at the show."

Go out and support our local artists!

Celebrate Earth Day with a Great Meal!

Are you free next Tuesday evening? How about dinner at Garden at the Cellar or the Beehive for a good cause?

Chefs Collaborative, located here in Boston, has been working with Organic Valley on their Earth Dinner initiative for five years. Earth Dinners are a celebration of our connection to food, the earth, and one another. The dinners are not only a time to enjoy delicious local, sustainable and organic food, but also to connect with friends and family. Call the restaurants directly for reservations.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Garden at the Cellar 991 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

5:00 pm-11:00 pm

617-230-5880

The Beehive 541 Tremont Street,Boston, MA 02116

5:00 pm-close

617-423-0669

A Chance to Perfect your Mexican Cooking Skills

Wednesday, April 23rd from 6:30 to 9:00PM
Ole Mexican Grill, 11 Springfield St, Cambridge, MA

Slow Food member Carlha Vickers has alerted us to a great opportunity taking place in a few weeks - a cooking class with chef Erwin Ramos of Ole Mexican Grill! He will be demonstrating and teaching the intricacies of traditional Mexican mole, and also passing along his wisdom in regards to flour tortillas and other various Mexican appetizers.

Cost is $50 per person for the class & meal (drinks available for an extra charge)

If you're interested, email Carlha at: carlha@verizon.net

Ole!

Farm Sanctuary co-founder speaking April 13th

Sunday April 13th @ 4:00PM
Grasshopper, 1 North Beacon St., Allston

Boston Vegetarian Society is sponsoring another great lecturer - this time Gene Baur, the President and Cofounder of Farm Sanctuary.
According to their email, he "...will present the important topic of how animal agribusiness operates beyond the law in areas of animal welfare, environmental protection, health and labor laws, anti-trust, and obtains billions of dollars in government support.
His documentation of cruel conditions at farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses have aired around the globe. He has testified in court and before legislatures, and has initiated groundbreaking legal enforcement and legislative action to prevent factory farming abuses. He played a significant role in passing the first U.S. laws to prohibit cruel farming systems and his work has been covered in most major national media. Farm Sanctuary is the country's leading farm animal advocacy organization.

Gene's just-released book, "Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food," has gotten terrific reviews and will be available for signing and purchase. $25 hard cover, cash or checks only."

Stay for dinner after the lecture - an all veg buffet for $9.50 + tax & tip!

Sustainable Seafood & Our Oceans - Lecture at Harvard this Sunday!

The Harvard Museum of Natural History has selected Jeremy Jackson, renowned marine ecologist of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to receive the 11^th annual Roger Tory Peterson Medal and will be speaking this coming Sunday, April 6th, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the Harvard University Science Center, One Oxford Street, Cambridge. In his lecture, he will be addressing something near and dear to us, both as 'foodies' and as Bostonians; the future of the world’s oceans.

"Decades of over-fishing, habitat destruction and ocean warming have left our marine ecosystems and biodiversity in a state of crisis. But with successful management and conservation strategies, Jackson sees hope for renewing the health and sustainability of our oceans."

Admission is $5 for the general public and free for museum members. Advance tickets are required. Call the Harvard Box Office at 617-496-2222 to reserve.

Westport Rivers Wine Dinner next Saturday!

Our friends down in Westport are having a wonderful looking event this coming Saturday evening - a walk through the vineyard and talk with founders Bob and Carol Russell discussing their "...vision of a sustainable future for the fishing and farming community which Westport Rivers calls its home" followed by a yummy meal of spring tastes and sparkling wines...

Learn a bit about the local agriculture community, and please your palates all in the same night!

Things kick off at 5:30pm, and the cost is $75 per person.

More information can be found HERE.

Home Orchard workshop at Old Sturbridge Village

If you've ever wanted to have the pleasure of picking a ripe, juicy apple off your very own fruit tree, this may be the seminar for you!

Old Sturbridge Village, is hosting 'The Apple Professor,' Tom Burford for a lecture on not only planning for your home orchard but also a workshop on grafting - the result of which will be your very own bench-grafted tree from a heirloom variety!

Saturday, April 12th from 10:00am to 2:30pm
$80 for nonmembers

Check out their website for more information!

Did you miss our screening of King Corn?

If so, you have another chance!

The Boston Public Library is having a FREE showing this Saturday, March 29th @ 2:00PM. It will be held at the Boylston St location, near Copley Square, in the Rabb Lecture Hall.

The film is sponsored by the ITVS Film Series. More information can be found at: http://www.usahostels.org/itvs.php

And did you happen to see that the movie was featured on Good Morning America?? http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/256.0/popup/index.php?cl=6960848

Local Food Economics Discussion this Sunday!

Conscious Consuming is hosting a lunch-time potluck and discussion with Kate Mrozicki, the CSA manager at The Food Project, to address the issues surrounding “Growing the Local Food Economy.”

What an incredibly complex topic! It's great to see people taking it on - it is important that we not only think about supporting local farmers and food producers, but also do what we can to help them be economically stable and able to grow and compete in today's markets.

The gathering is being held this Sunday, March 30th in Jamaica Plain at 1:00pm. If you have interest in learning more or attending, contact susan@consciousconsuming.org.

Down:2:Earth Sustainability Expo next weekend!

March 28th, 29th and 30th head over to the Hynes Convention Center for an incredible gathering of people dedicating themselves to "...making our world a better place to live."

The down:2:earth expo is being billed as an exploration into sustainable living - so look for everyone from environmentally sensitive travel agents, natural clothing companies and local food producers showing their wares and generously giving their time to educate us all as to how to make better choices for both ourselves and the world around us.

They have a number of great food and agriculture related workshops and round table discussions planned throughout the weekend that you all should check out. One of which, a panel discussion on the definition of 'Sustainable Food,' will feature Slow Food Boston's very own Peggy Hogan, James Lionette and John Lee!

Go - just make sure to walk, bicycle or take public transportation!
www.d2eboston.com

Down:2:Earth Sustainable Living Expo
Friday, March 28th 5 - 10pm
Saturday, March 29th 11am - 7pm
Sunday March 30th 11am - 5pm
Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St
Purchase tickets online:
Adults $10 ($12 at the door)
Students/Seniors $8 ($10 at the door)
Weekend Pass $20
Children 12 and under free

Francis Moore Lappe speaking locally!

Francis Lappe will be appearing locally a few times in the next few weeks, touring with her new book Getting a Grip Clarity, Creativity and Courage and in a World Gone Mad. Check her out at the following events:

Wednesday, March 19th, 7:30 PM
“Getting a Grip on Democracy” Cambridge Forum (free and open to the public)
Co-sponsored by Food for Free. Reception at 6:30.

Monday, March 24th, 7:00 PM
Environmental Speaker Series
Green Decade Coalition and the Newton Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides
Newton Free Library, 300 Homer St., Newton Centre, MA

Thursday, March 27th, 7:00 PM
Reading & Booksigning @ Porter Square Books
25 White St., Cambridge, MA

Sunday, March 30^th, 3:00 PM
Keynote Speech @ d2e - down:2:earth Sustainability Expo
Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St., Boston, MA

Westport Rivers Irish Celebration

So, sparkling wines from Massachusetts might not immediately strike you as having a direct connection to Ireland, but the folks down at Westport Rivers Winery are using St. Patrick's Day as an excuse to throw a party anyway! It sounds like a yummy yummy dinner....

Saturday March 15th, 2008 5:00-8:00 PM
$70.00+tax/guest
Call ahead for tickets at 508-636-2483 ext. 2 or buy online: http://www.westportrivers.com/events-index.htm

The evening will start with an in depth tour of the tank room, “riddling” and bottling areas of our “cellars” so you may learn about the centuries old process for making “traditional method” sparkling wines. We will then retire to Long Acre House to enjoy an Irish Dinner created by personal chef Rose Johnson and paired with our food friendly Westport Rivers wines.
Rose Johnson has recently settled in Dartmouth with her family.
“As the daughter of a restaurant owner and granddaughter of hotel and restaurant owners, my introduction to the hospitality industry came at an early age. At age five, I helped my grandmother with her daily routine of making homemade donuts and setting out continental breakfast for hotel guests. Five years later, my father opened his first restaurant and I was put to work baking pies and making appetizers. At age 14, I graduated to the front of the house operations as I bussed, hosted and waited tables. I have worked in every aspect of the food service industry. From fine dining at some of the hottest restaurants in Philadelphia to school and health care food service, to teaching adults and children, to catering and conference cooking, my experience has been complete. Though trained as a Pastry Chef, I enjoy all types of cooking and specialize in working with locally-grown fresh foods.”

Passed hors d’oeuvres
Westport Rivers Chardonnay poached salmon nestled in a light chive custard and flaky pastry cup
Rose’s grilled Irish soda bread bites with Kerry Gold cheese & Westport Rivers Riesling jelly
Marcona almonds nestled inside a sundried plum wrapped in bacon
paired with Westport Rivers 2001 Imperial Sec

Salad
Eva’s Garden baby salad greens in a light vinaigrette

Entrée
Corned beef glazed with Westport Rivers Pinot Noir Blanc jelly
Seared cabbage wedges, oven roasted Macomber turnips, carrots, onions, and sautéed fresh kale
Irish champ (mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with green onions and cream)
paired with Westport Rivers 2006 Pinot Blanc

Dessert
Trifle with Pinot Blanc soaked sponge cake, lemon curd cream, and fresh blackberries
paired with Westport Rivers Pineau de Pinot

Massachusetts Wines event Saturday 3/8

Gordon's Fine Wine & Culinary Center is hosting a Massachusetts growers gathering this Saturday afternoon - get a chance to taste wines from our great state, free of charge!

March 8, 2008 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

"Come discover the diversity and quality of wine, vinified in your own backyard. Gordon's Fine Wine & Culinary Center is thrilled to welcome a group of local wine producers, who are excited to educate about their respective vineyards and present a sample of their wines.

The following will be represented:
Truro Vineyards
Turtle Creek Winery
Plymouth Winery
Neponset Winery
Alfalfa Farm

Also, Cabot Cheese has been gracious enough to sponsor this event and will be providing some great cheeses to pair with the wines."

They do require pregistration, check out their website for more info: http://www.gordonswine.com/school/

Maple Sugar Days in Milton this Weekend!

Spring Sap is running! Go check out the action first-hand!

Saturday, March 8th & Sunday, March 9th 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
$5.00 Adults $3.00 Children Ages 3 – 12

It’s sugarin’ time in the Blue Hills! Join us as we make maple syrup in the traditional way at beautiful Brookwood Farm in Milton. Put on your boots and flannel shirt and join in the outdoor fun! Learn how to identify a sugar maple and see the sap drip into buckets from the trees. Travel along the trail of time and meet costumed characters demonstrating the changes in maple sugaring methods from Native Americans to Yankee farmers to modern day technology. Smell the wood smoke as you watch clouds of steam rise from the bubbling sap. Savor the taste of real maple syrup. Activities for all ages.

Directions: Brookwood Farm is located in the Blue Hills Reservation on the Canton/Milton line. Take Exit 3 (Houghton’s Pond) off Route 93 and follow signs to Maple Sugar Days parking at 840 Hillside Street in Milton.

For more information, call (617) 698-1802 or (617) 333-0690 or visit www.mass.gov/dcr

Maple Sugar Days is a joint program of the DCR and Massachusetts Audubon’s Trailside Museum. A program admission fee is charged to benefit the Trailside Museum.

Lecture on Vegan Organic Farming at Harvest Co-op

This seems interesting, maybe worth a gander... A whole other level of organics that we might not think about! The presentation is a part of Harvest's on-going Tuesday evening lecture series. Check out their website for more information and other events for the month of March.

Tuesday, March 4th 6:00-8:00pm
Harvest Co-op in Central Square
http://www.harvest.coop/learn/calendar.html

"Organic Farming – What comes from the land is considered vegan. What goes into it often is not. Generally, farmers use fertilizer containing feathers, blood, bone meal, and / or fish emulsion on their fields, as well as manure. Sometimes the manure is from organically raised animals, often it is not.

Some of the issues that will be addressed include the reasons for the use of animal products in organic farming fertilization methods, the potential risks that are as a result of commercial animal renderings going into the land, and the vegan alternatives available to gardeners and farmers.

The presentation will be given by Lisa Bouley MS, a local nutritionist and owner of Vej Natural Market and Café, planned to open in March in Lynn; and Ashley Howard, owner of Heavens Harvest Farm in New Braintree, Mass, a certified organic farm growing for local CSAs (Community Shares Agriculture) and central Massachusetts stores. Ashley, an organic farmer for many years, has agreed to farm veganically, without the use of animal products if there is enough community interest. Our local Heavens Harvest CSA is planning a drop off point at Harvest Co-op - Cambridge on Thursdays."

3/1 & 3/2 Garden Fair in Wayland

Yes, it just MIGHT be springtime... soon.... I hope!

In order to raise your spirits and get you excited about the possibility of things growing in this cold, frozen darkness we call winter in Boston, I present the Russell's Garden Center Winter Garden Fair!

Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm
397 Boston Post Road (Route 20) in Wayland
http://russellsgardencenter.com/events/wgf2008.html

We received an email from the Federation of Mass Farmers Markets with the following info:

"The fair will feature free lectures, demonstrations, and live music, as well food, wine, and beer tasting. This is a great opportunity to support farmers' markets while stocking up on your spring gardening needs in a festive environment.

In addition, Mass Farmers Markets staff will be selling raffle tickets at the fair to benefit our organization. The grand prize is a 2- night stay for two at the Commodore's Inn in Stowe, VT. Additional prizes include Boston Red Sox tickets, a skateboard, and a gift basket of artisan handmade chocolates -- as well as over 20 other excellent prizes.

We hope you'll consider coming by to enjoy this remarkable event. If you do, please stop by the Mass Farmers' Markets booth to say hello, learn more about this season's markets, and perhaps win a raffle prize!"