Local food cooking class 2024 and other local food news

Are you wanting to find a way to support your local farms, but don’t know how to buy or prepare local foods? NC Cooperative Extension, Catawba Center will be offering their popular Local Food Cooking Classes for the 7th year to help address this issue. The classes will feature about 3 recipes utilizing in season local products and recipes that are healthy and easy to prepare. The fee is $10 and will include a bag of locally sourced produce to help you get started. You’ll also learn how to source local foods yourself, what local farms have in season and some tips on how to make the most of your purchases. Ticket sales open on March 8th at 9 am and often sell out quickly for the season. Please visit https://catawba. ces.ncsu.edu for tickets and more information. These classes will be held every month from April to October on the 3rd Wednesday from 6-7pm alternating between the NC Cooperative Extension Center and the Hickory Soup Kitchen.

For more information on sourcing local foods please visit catawbacountyfood. com. This Local Food Guide can be found online and in print and is full of information and links to local farmers’ markets, food businesses sourcing local food, CSAs (Consumer Supported Agriculture) shares, U-Pick, farm stands, a local farm directory, local food events and NC Cooperative Extension programs.

Some important dates to remember for 2024: Farmers Market opening days are, Conover Farmers MarketSaturday May 4th from 8-12, Public Health Farmers Market -Thursday June 7th 10am-1pm, and the yearround Hickory Farmers Market summer hours will begin Saturday April 20th from 8am -1pm and will then also be open on Wednesdays from 10am- 2pm. The Hickory Farmers Market is currently open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm. The Eat, Drink and be Local Food Festival will be from June 14th-29th and feature workshops, farm tours, and the Local Farm Feast at Raising Roots on June 29th from 6-9pm (Tickets will go on sale shortly), and The Farm City Banquet will be held on November 19th at Market on Main from 6-9pm. Other events in the spirit of Farm City (observed nationally to foster awareness and understanding between rural and urban people) will be announced throughout the year, including farm bus tours.

Please visit the NC Cooperative Extension Website to sign up for our newsletter to keep up with Extension programs and other important information.