Planning is underway for UMD’s Food and Farm Festival, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The celebration takes place at UMD’s farm, 3568 Riley Road.
UMD’s Food and Farm Festival is a fundraiser for the farm, a 15-acre Sustainable Agriculture Project. Director Randel Hanson says it’s a land lab where education, public engagement, and operations come together. “We model sustainable practices in food, water, energy, and land management, providing hands-on learning for students, collaborative research for faculty and community, and a farm-classroom-to-table opportunity for the campus.” The farm produces more than 50,000 pounds of food for UMD Dining Services as students learn the lessons of sustainability in practice.
[[{"attributes":{},"fields":{}}]]This year’s Food and Farm Festival includes a scenic 5k-trail race, kids’ races with Champ, a farmers market, and a $5 “farm to plate” lunch prepared by UMD Executive Chef Tom Linderholm and Dining Services staff members who are donating their time to the event.
About the festival menu, Amanda Joyce, dietitian with the Employee Health and Wellness Program says, “You can literally see the fields where the vegetables were picked the day before. It’s really special to enjoy these fresh, local ingredients from the farm.”
Festivalgoers can also participate in farm tours with hands-on activities, caramel apple dipping, a petty zoo (with pygmy goats and other animals), and face painting.
The Food and Farm Festival receives major sponsorship from Essentia Health and Whole Foods Co-op. KUMD, Demolicious, The Edge Pilates Studio, and Canal Park Brewing also support the event.