Cooking Local

A two-year Specialty Crops Block Grant funded initiative (2012-2013), administered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) that concluded in December 2013. The project aimed to foster healthy eating and increase the sale of locally grown fruits and vegetables in Western North Carolina through expanded knowledge of fresh food preparation and nutrition education.

Local chefs partnered with farmers to conduct a series of cooking demonstrations in Haywood, Jackson & Buncombe counties. Each demonstration featured a locally-grown specialty crop, the farmers who grew it, and a local chef who demonstrated how to transform fresh in-season ingredients into a simple, healthy and affordable dish.

From May to October, Buy Haywood facilitated twelve events in 2012 and thirteen events in 2013—at a variety of venues across three counties including farmers markets, agriculture related festivals, and other community events.

During the 2013 season alone, Buy Haywood distributed 1,942 samples to a diverse population of consumers across two counties. Our extraordinary outreach was a direct result of joint-county collaboration with MountainWise in Haywood and Jackson counties.

The unique database of recipes and outreach partners will continue to be utilized by Buy Haywood as well as being featured on our website for consumer use.

—Contributing Chefs—

Jackie Blevins of Perfectly Seasoned

Keith Davis of The Swag

Heidi Dunkleberg of Coffee Cup Café

Jessica DeMarco of Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon

Charles Hudson of Sunburst Trout

Ambra Lowenstein of Kids at Work!

Alex Masciarelli, Local Educator & Buy Haywood Volunteer

Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood Project Coordinator

Josh Monroe of The Chef’s Table

Jen Pearson of Guadalupe Cafe

Kaighn Raymond of Frogs Leap Public House

Jeff Smith of City Bakery in Waynesville

Ethan Whitener, Executive Chef @ Memorial Mission Campus

 

 

 

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