Food and Farm Festival

ECHO’s annual event is a chance to explore, learn, taste and experience

For 28 years in a row, many have marked March as the month that ECHO’s Global Food and Farm Festival takes place. This annual event has seen its share of repeat visitors. “We are always excited when guests return year after year. It’s the most unique festival in Lee County,” says Danielle Flood, communications manager for the North Fort Myersbased ECHO, a global organization offering support to small-scale farmers worldwide.

Attendees get a chance to see the 50acre Global Farm where seven settings represent a variety of worldwide climate zones, such as monsoon, lowlands and semi-arid. Plus, they can tour a tropical rainforest.

Gardeners and growers especially enjoy the educational tour of the fruit tree arboretum that includes apple, atemoya and avocado, among others. Those interested in technology and alternative energies can appreciate the demonstrations that take place in the Anderson Appropriate Technology Center, where simple technologies are shown to improve lives. Even foodies always have something to

look forward to—a chance to taste exotic food. This year, they can also enjoy a live on-stage cooking show led by Executive Chef David Robbins of Crave Culinaire, a gourmet catering company in North Naples.

“Whether festivalgoers are pumping water through handmade pumps or learning where rice comes from or planting seeds, the Global Food and Farm Festival is a great way for families to have fun and learn together,” adds Flood.

FOR MORE INFO ECHO’s Global Food and Farm Festival March 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets: advance $5, day of event $7 echonet.org/food-and-farm-festival