The opinions expressed in these blogs are solely those of the people who wrote them, and do not represent the views of WPSU or Penn State University.

Local Food Journey

A look at Friends & Farmers Coop’s upcoming online market

Posted by Anna Lombardo on 10/31 at 02:59 AM

Local food lovers in the Central Pennsylvania area have many options when purchasing their groceries. In addition to various local food vendors that occupy downtown locales, farmers markets like the Downtown Farmers’ Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms take advantage of the (relatively) nice fall, spring, and summer weather to grow and sell an even wider selection of local foods.

Friends & Farmers Cooperative will soon add another option to the mix: an online farmers’ market offering locally produced vegetables, fruits, dairy products, eggs, meats, fish and baked goods for online pre-ordering and one-stop customer pickup. Organizers are aiming to open the market for the first group of participating vendors to update their available inventory on November 19, for customer ordering to begin November 21, with first pickup on Tuesday, November 25– just before Thanksgiving.

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Local Food Journey

Mt. Nittany Winery to hold Harvest Dinner Nov. 8

Posted by Linda Weaver on 10/29 at 06:59 AM

Winery owners Joe and Betty Carroll invite you to an intimate evening with your friends at the Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery. Our Winemaker’s Harvest Dinner, catered by Brown Dog Catering, is an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the harvest and the company of fellow wine lovers at our beautiful setting on the side of Mt. Nittany. We have selected wines to accompany each course and will discuss the pairings as the evening progresses–hope you will join us!

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Local Food Journey

Support local food by supporting WPSU? Absolutely!

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/24 at 09:27 AM

As I write this we are in the last hours of the fall pledge drive at WPSU. My wife and I renewed our membership this morning (I am not in fact, a greyhound, and if you were listening around 6:30 a.m. you’ll get that). The local food scene and WPSU run parallel to each other…each offer outstanding stuff produced right here in Central Pennsylvania. I think it makes sense to support both.

The similarities run deeper than that, to the point where we support each other. Local food businesses have been underwriters of WPSU and of course, WPSU offers you this very blog. Recently, WPSU’s Anna Foley produced a radio feature that told the story of that amazing El Gringo Taco Truck that serves up remarkable renditions of Mexican classics at area farmers markets. If you’ve had one of Ben Stanley’s delicious creations, chances are you’ve become hooked. But, as you found out by listening to Anna’s story, how El Gringo came about is as interesting as his food is good.

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Local Food Journey

Mt. Nittany Winery’s Harvest Photo Contest captures beauty of autumn at the Winery

Posted by Linda Weaver on 10/24 at 08:57 AM

Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery received many entries for their annual Harvest Photo Contest. The First Place winner, receiving a $50 gift certificate, was Tom Gari, and his wife, Dawn Gari, was Runner-Up receiving a $25 gift certificate. There were several Honorable Mentions, all receiving a certificate for a Winery Tour and Wine & Cheese Tasting for Four.

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Local Food Journey

Way Fruit Farm’s apple cider a real cold-weather treat

Posted by Anna Lombardo on 10/23 at 10:28 AM

Apple cider is one of those cold-weather favorites: steaming cups of the hot, fruity stuff bring back pleasant memories of many a childhood. I always associate it with my family’s annual Christmas tree outing to a local farm in my hometown, where the drink was made on the spot and given out to patrons free of charge (each subsequent refill costs you a quarter). You can find cider in almost any grocery store throughout the year, but there is absolutely nothing like a freshly poured mug of it to warm your hands (and soul).

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Local Food Journey

Boalsburg Farmers Market seek administrator to implement key USDA grant

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/21 at 08:42 AM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the Boalsburg Farmers Market $28,171 to increase the sale of local agricultural products. The Farmers Market Promotion Program funds will be used to allow SNAP (food stamp) recipients to buy at the Boalsburg market, increase the number of cooking demonstrations there, expand its school outreach programs, and raise public awareness of the market and the health benefits of fresh local food through increased advertising. The market is seeking a part-time grant administrator, SNAP benefits program coordinator, and publicity director to implement the grant. Persons interested I the grant administrator position can contact the market’s Community Outreach Director, Jim Eisenstein, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Local Food Journey

World Food Day speaker raises modern food issues

Posted by Local Food Journey on 10/20 at 08:45 AM

By LaCreta Holland

October 16, 2014, was “World Food Day,” a day for “action against hunger,” proclaimed by the United Nations.

On World Food Day, I attended a very interesting lecture by Bryan McDonald, assistant professor of history at Penn State. His lecture, “Dinner for Seven Billion:  Food Issues for the 21st Century,” was held as part of Schlow Library’s Research Unplugged series.

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Local Food Journey

This weekend, get your fill of fall festivals

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/17 at 09:54 AM

If you like, this weekend you can do a mini fall festival tour around the Centre Region. Here’s four fun ones that will make for a nice autumn weekend:

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Local Food Journey

Lots to discover at our farmers markets in autumn

Posted by Local Food Journey on 10/16 at 06:59 AM

Fall is officially upon us. The leaves are changing from a verdant green to the many warm shades of red and orange; temperatures are dropping steadily; and, perhaps most importantly, the Downtown State College Farmer’s Market, which is held every Tuesday and Friday afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Locust Lane and College Avenue, has revealed their many seasonal offerings. Those who are fond of decorating in the autumnal and Halloween-esque styles—and even those who just like a good squash—will be delighted to see what Locust Lane has in store on Tuesday and Friday afternoons in October.

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Local Food Journey

How to extend your garden-fresh tomato season

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/14 at 08:50 AM

One of the better garden writers out there is Doug Oster, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Last week, he wrote about tomatoes and how to save them for, believe it or not, Thanksgiving dinner.

That got me thinking; despite our cold morning last Sunday (we got down to 30 degrees in Port Matilda) somehow, someway, my tomato plants survived it despite not being covered. So, this idea of fresh tomatoes in November has a lot of appeal to me and given our mild weather forecasted for the next week or two, any remaining tomatoes can be encouraged to ripen.

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Local Food Journey

Millheim Oktoberfest to be held Saturday Oct. 11

Posted by Local Food Journey on 10/10 at 07:29 AM

By Anna Lombardo

Free up your schedule, folks—the second annual Millheim Oktoberfest, presented by Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks to benefit the Millheim fire company, is just around the corner. On Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 11:00 a.m. and lasting until 7:00 p.m., the Millheim fire company grounds will host this family friendly, all-weather event, where they plan to offer traditional German food, drink, music, and dancing—in the spirit of community involvement and kinship. 

Oktoberfest, I learn from Elk Creek Cafe head brewer Tim Yarrington (I was pitiably uninformed about the event), dates back to Germany in the early 1800s, when a party was thrown for a young Prince Ludwig, in honor of his marriage. The entire town of Munich, Germany, was invited, and thus Ludwig’s marriage party set epic proportions for this tradition, which would inspire subsequent celebrations all over the world every year for the next several hundred years.

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Our Town

Our Town: Smethport LIVE Premiere Thursday, October 16

Posted by Whitney on 10/08 at 09:33 AM

This summer, volunteer storytellers from Smethport, Pa. came together for the 79th production in the “Our Town” series. They spent weeks capturing video and taking photos for the stories they selected to be a part of their town’s story. Their stories share the rich history and pride of this friendly community.

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Our Town

Getting Ready for “Our Town: Tyrone” Production

Posted by Whitney on 10/08 at 09:30 AM

Getting ready for the “Our Town: Tyrone” production this Saturday! Volunteers have been all around the community capturing footage to share in a program that highlights the best of their hometown. The stories that they selected will come to life on screen this December on WPSU.

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Local Food Journey

Friends & Farmers to hold inaugural membership meeting Oct. 11

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/08 at 07:59 AM

Friends & Farmers Cooperative, which is opening a member-owned grocery store that will specialize in local, sustainably-produced products, is holding its inaugural membership meeting this Saturday, Oct. 11, at the State College High School South cafeteria at 2:00 p.m.

The co-op, nearly 300 members strong, will elect a permanent board of directors; hear an update on its progress and future plans, including the upcoming launch of the Friends & Farmers online farmers market; and answer members’ questions.

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