Chamber to Champion Farm to Chef Initiative

Hudson, NY - The Farm to Chef Initiative is an exciting new collaboration that was launched as a spin off of the Chamber's annual Agricultural Brunch.

On March 15 over 75 business leaders attended this annual event. Attendees included food service, agricultural and business industries. The panelists included Chris Cashen, The Farm at Miller's Crossing; Chuck Colaruotolo, Running Creek Farm; Weir Stewart from the former Odyssey Farm and Mary Gail Biebel, Chatham Keep Farming. The panelists spoke about Farming in Columbia County: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Each panelist highlighted a similar theme of working with fellow businesspeople in the County to help promote and sustain agriculture.

After the meeting Lori Selden of Mexican Radio and David Robinson of Bezalel Gables Fine Catering and Events talked about their desire to have more locally grown products available for their culinary creations. Lori and David are now involved with the Chamber Agriculture Committee and are working with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County and the Columbia Hudson Partnership to form a Farm to Chef Program that makes locally grown fruits and vegetables available to local chefs. If you are in either the food service or agricultural industry and would like to learn about how you can buy and sell local products, we encourage you to attend the first Twilight Meeting on Tuesday, August 8. The meeting will take place at 7:30 pm at Holmquest Farm located on 478 Spook Rock Road in Hudson . This first meeting is planned to help enhance the distribution of locally grown or produced products to local buyers. The Twilight Meeting is free and open to all farmers and food service people.

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.