A harvest trail meal is a celebration of seasonal abundance and a way to embrace sustainable, open, and vibrant food systems that improve the overall health of communities, according to Danny Simpson, assistant manager of the Hulings Rice Food Center.
And it is in this spirit that Simpson and his colleagues will be whipping up the fifth annual Harvest Trail Dinner, Friday, September 27, 6–9 p.m.
“We really want to frame this event in dedication to farmers because of how appreciative we are, how much value we see in this region’s food system, and how much variety and abundance there is for such a rural place,” Simpson said.
Center staff and students will be honoring the region’s farmers by preparing a three-course, family-style dinner made from seasonal, locally-grown ingredients sourced from at least twenty food producers in the region.
“It’s one dinner, once a year, but people can experience food in a setting that was produced in relationship to our region and ecosystem we find ourselves in,” Simpson said.
The Hulings Rice Food Center partners with local farmers and the community to cultivate a place for food producers, students, and faculty to come together to learn, teach, and research issues around food, sustainability, and economic vitality in rural communities.
“I think having conversations over dinner is one of the best ways to get to know people and to have an honest, open conversation about food,” Simpson said.
To register.
Mya Simon studies English and Native American studies at Northland College and holds a job in the Office of Communications.
