The 2nd Annual Food & Farmer’s Explo offers Food Samples, Fashion Show, Talks, Nutrition Info Meet The People Who Grow Your Food Sept. 18, 10am-4pm at Webster Groves Recreation Complex
Last year’s event drew over 1000 visitors in just 6 hours and a bigger crowed is expected this year,” said J.B. Lester, publisher of The Healthy Planet magazine, co-sponsor of the Expo. “This is a great way for the public to shake the hand of the people who grow and make our foods. There will be plenty of samples and giveaways and everyone will go home happy they came.”
The series of talks and scheduled events include:
St. Louis Food Hub. 10-11am: Farm to Family Naturally will provide an update on the very exciting plans for the St. Louis Food Hub in Lafayette Square and the progress of a new Farm to Family Mobile Market which will bring healthy foods into St. Louis’ “food desert” areas. The Mobile Market program is partially funded by Wallace HUFED.
I’ve Grown Herbs: Now What Do I Do? 11am-Noon: Nancy Smith of Farm to Family Naturally and former owner of Herbal Comfort, an herb nursery, greenhouse and herbal shop, will speak and demonstrate methods of harvesting and preserving our homegrown herbs. Freezing, drying and making herb vinegars and oils will be included. Learn how to make your own sunburn oil using St. John’s Wort, lavender oils and olive oil.
Upcycled clothing fashion show. Noon-1pm: Operation Food Search and Rung, a non-profit upcycled clothing store, will offer a fashion show of some of their cute and trendy gently-worn clothing. (see page 4). Preserving The Harvest: An overview of Freezing, Dehydrating and Canning. 1-2pm: Mary Wissman, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, University of Missouri Extension.
Feed Your Soil and it Will Feed Your Plants: Sustainable Soil Management. 2-3pm: Randy Greene, owner of Greene’s Country Store. Randy has been speaking on sustainable soil management for over 20 years.
Cooking Demonstration: Cooking With Fresh, Local Foods. 3-4pm: Wayne Prichard of Chipotle’s will demonstrate quick and easy ways to make delicious meals using fresh, local ingredients.
There will be over 50 booths offering food and drink samples. Come meet some farmers. The first 300 visitors receive a free eco-friendly, reusable tote bag and the first 100 visitors get a free ticket to Missouri Botanical Garden. Take home a bag full of healthy and delicious food and products from such vendors as: Sappington Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market, Dog Town Pizza, Breadsmith, Greene’s Country Store, Good Earth Egg Company, Berhanu Organics, Earth Dance Farms, 3 Buddeez and many more.
“We hope everyone will discover a new idea that will help them improve the way they eat,” Lester said. “The farmers and food professionals at this Expo will make sure of that.”
Adult admission is $5 and kids under 16 are free. Two for one admission tickets are available in this issue of the The Healthy Planet on page 5.
For more info, please call 314-962-7748 or visit online at www.thehealthyplanet.com.