Growers exhibit Indiana’s produce at fundraiser dinner

Each fall, local chefs and farmers come together to prepare a five-course meal in celebration of Indiana’s fresh produce.

Today the Local Growers Guild will have its second Harvest Dinner fundraiser in honor of the abundance of local, fresh, in-season foods with 100 percent of the proceeds directly benefitting the LGG.

The LGG is a cooperative of farmers, community members, grocery stores and restaurants dedicated to strengthening the local food economy in southern Indiana.

 Katie Zukof, assistant director of the LGG, said that the purpose of the harvest dinner is to make connections between growers, retailers and members of the community.

“The dinner is a great opportunity to offer something to community members,” Zukof said. “They can see what we do in a more concrete way.”

Marcia Veldman, local grower and Farmers’ Market coordinator for Bloomington Department of Parks and Recreation, has participated in the event both years. The dinner this year will feature Veldman’s leaf lettuce, fingerling potatoes and butternut squash.

Because of last years successful turn out, five local chefs will prepare the meal using Veldman and other farmers’ fresh produce rather than catering.
“The food and the chefs that are working on the dinner are really top-notch,” Veldman said.

The LGG decided to expand capacity this year from 60 to 100 attendees and contacted Angela Schnick, general manager at Upland Brewery, about having the event at a larger venue to raise more money.

LGG members Upland Brewery and Oliver Winery are donating alcohol to the event.

Schnick said each course of the meal has a recommended wine and beer pairing, and the grapes used to ferment the wine are grown locally. Coffee will also be provided by Brown County Coffee.

“It’s our mission to bring as much local produce as we can to our menu to help sustainability and to help the community,” Schnick said.

Other farms donating produce to the dinner include Harvest Moon Flower Farm, Fiedler Family Farms, Grass Harvest, Homestead Growers, The Chile Woman, Meadowlark Organic Farm, Strangler’s Hill Organics and Capriole.

Participating chefs from One World Enterprises, FARMbloomington, Upland Brewery and Nick’s English Hut will also attend.

Local Irish musicians Eric Schedler, Jamie Gans and Grey Larsen will perform live music.

Overall, Zukof hopes the dinner will facilitate relationships and raise awareness about food issues.

“We just want to celebrate the amazing products and the abundance of fresh products
available this time of year,” Zukof said. “We also want to encourage community members to purchase local foods and learn more about the diversity of local produce.”