Columbia County Agricultural Brunch

Hudson – March 4, 2011 - The Annual Chamber Agricultural Brunch will be held on March 16 at Hudson Park at 11:00 am. Don't miss this opportunity to learn, network and taste some great local fare. 

The Agricultural Brunch has become the premier event for county residents who are involved in or concerned with our local farms and food system. This year’s brunch will again offer people a chance to network and learn what is happening on the local agricultural scene.

This year’s panel consists of Jen Small, Flying Pigs Farm and American Farmland Trust; Anna Duhon, Farmscape Ecology Program - Hawthorne Valley Farm and Todd Erling, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp.

Jen Small of Flying Pigs Farm started Farm Camp at Flying Pigs Farm, an intensive 2-day program for professionals in food service, food media, and food activism on the realities of small-farm production and distribution.   Since its founding in 2009, more than 120 people leaders form organizations such as Greenmarkets and the Food Systems Network, publications such as Gourmet and Edible Hudson Valley, and chefs from restaurants such as Jean-Georges and Savoy, have attended Farm Camp.  Campers visit a milk-bottling plant and a slaughterhouse, a maple producer’s sugar shack, and a goat farm.  They tour a cheese cave and slaughter chickens.  They attend seminars on the role of Cornell Cooperative Extension and the importance of farmland conservation.  The Camp helps to build relationships and understanding between urban food tastemakers and rural producers.

Anna Duhon works with the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program, a research and outreach program exploring the nature, history and culture of the agricultural landscape in Columbia County.  Recently she's been gathering information about the local food system and how people interact with it as part of an ongoing Community Food Assessment project.  This has involved conducting community surveys at farmers' markets, community days, and schools, as well as exploring and mapping the availability of different types of food resources, from farms to stores, throughout the County.

The Agricultural Brunch will be held on Wednesday, March 16 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. The event will be held at Hudson Park Restaurant located at 3521 Route 9 in Greenport/Livingston line. The cost is $18. Please contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 for reservations by March 11.

Supporting Sponsors of this event are Columbia Land Conservancy, Farm Credit East, Hawthorne Valley Association and The Berry Farm.

Sponsoring all events throughout the year are Major Sponsors: A. Colarusso & Son, Crawford & Associates Engineering & Land Surveying, PC, E.P. Nevins Insurance, Inc., First Niagara Bank, Kinderhook Bank and Taconic.  Media Sponsors are Chatham Courier/Register-Star, Clear Channel Radio and Midhudsonmedia.

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, with its 850 members, is the leading voice of business in Columbia County, providing advocacy, promotional and benefit solutions for its members. Those seeking more information concerning the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and membership can contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or visit the website at www.columbiachamber-ny.com.