Local Thanksgiving Dinner

With the Press

Today was basically spent doing interviews with the Delaware County Times and The Daily Star. Hopefully this will generate some new interest in the project from the community. I also made sure to make it clear that community members were invited to the screening of "Fresh" on November 17th. The film will be shown at 3 pm and 7 pm in Okun Theatre (Farrell Student and Community Center).

I also spoke with Kevin Hodne on the phone today. He is from CADE in Oneonta and had a lot of insight and advice about what other colleges are doing in regards to using local foods.

One of my goals this week is to contact all the the farmer's market managers. I want to talk to them about what they think is working with the markets and what has been frustrating. I called Jerry Pellegrino who I thought was the manager for the market in Delhi...but he told me the actual manager is in Florida. Go Figure.

Pineapples grow in the ground?!

Its true. I saw it with my own eyes when I studied abroad in Costa Rica. Before that trip, I thought for sure that pineapples grew in trees. Many of us are clueless about how a lot of foods grow, and where our food comes from. Part of the "Farm to Table" mission is to raise awareness in the community and on campus about food and the food industry. We have scheduled a screening of the film FOOD, Inc. for September 16th, 7 pm, in Okun Theatre, Farrell Hall. This film exposes America's industrialized food system and the effect it has on our health, environment, worker's rights, and economy. It was nominated for an Oscar and has gotten rave reviews. After I saw this film, my entire perspective on food changed. Even if you have already seen this film, come see it again. Mark your calendars...you don't want to miss it!

"Don't take another bite till you see Food, Inc., an essential, indelible documentary."
- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone


"Does for the supermarket what 'Jaws' did for the beach."
- John Anderson, Variety

Stage 1: Enthusiastic Beginner

How exciting to be starting something new! First time blogging and first job out of college. Not sure which one is more scary. Anyway, it is my second day in the office and I already feel that lots of progress has been made. Besides doing the tedious stuff like setting up phones and getting office keys, lots of things have been  happening. We have our first official "Farm to Table" meeting this Friday at 2 pm in room 211A in Farrell Hall. I am hoping to get a lot of student interest, so I've put up fliers with silly cartoon vegetables around campus. The other big news is the "Growing Health" Conference in Binghamton, NY on October 5th. The whole conference is focusing on rural health and local foods. It would be awesome to get a restaurant in Delhi to prepare a meal for this conference. If anyone has suggestions, please post them! I would also like to take a group of students with me to the conference. That is, if we can get a scholarship from the Rural Health Network. Keep checking back here for more updates on that conference. And as terrible as it may sound to be stuck in a meeting on Friday afternoon, everyone should come! We need lots of help, and hey, its a guilt-free way to procrastinate!

VISTA Project: From Farm to Table, SUNY Delhi

Our project will begin on August 27th with the arrival of Mary Pysnik of Sidney NY.  Mary is currently at her pre-service orientation in Philadelphia.   Today, at the SUNY Delhi Open Forum, Mary was introduced in absentia to the campus community.  Welcome Mary!