NC Extension Office hosts cooking class
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office of Catawba County held a local foods cooking class on May 11th. This class emphasizes using in-season, fresh and local produce. It also celebrates the local farmers that produce it. North Carolina, Catawba County in particular, is rich in agriculture, and the purpose of the class is to showcase that.
The goal of the class is to use in-season, local produce that might be lesser known or used. For example, this class highlighted the use of swiss chard, kale, turnips, and fresh strawberries. The produce is the focus of each aspect of the meal that is prepared. The teachers of the class are April Vigardt, Extension Agent, Agriculture - Local Foods and Tina McGivallry, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences.
Participants of the class were able to taste everything that was made, as well as view an hourlong demonstration on how to prepare it. Participants also were provided a bag of local produce to take home in order to practice what they learned. This produce was provided by Honeytree Farm, Crouching Hippo, Hedge Family Farm, and Farmer’s Daughter.
For more information on local markets, farms, and u-picks, visit https://catawba.ces.ncsu.edu/farmersmarkets-in-catawba-
county/ or http://www.catawbacountyfood.com/.
The classes are held the first Wednesday of the month, from 6-7pm, from April to October. It is $10 a class. Please sign up by the Friday before the class at https://catawba.ces.ncsu.edu/local-foodscookingclass/. However, they fill up quickly, so it is recommended that participants sign up sooner. Participation of the class is also available on Zoom. Space is limited.
On June 18th-June 25th, the extension office is bringing back their Farm Feast event, which is a celebration and collaborative effort of local foods in the county. There will be several farm tours during the week, as well as various workshops. They will hold cooking demonstrations on Saturday. That evening, Raising Roots Farm is hosting a celebration at their farm. There will be live music, and local food available prepared by Chef Ben Sullivan and Chef Rick Doherr. They will hold a family-friendly event from 1-4pm that is free to the public, and the food festival from 6-9pm for $30. For tickets, please sign up at https://www.simpletix.com/e/farmfeast-tickets-105130.
For more information, regarding any of these programs call April Vigardt at (828) 465-8240.