Mark you calander for this year’s Farm & Forest Expo. February 3rd & 4th bring this annual winter fair featuring exhibitors, education sessions, student demonstrations, animals, and an auction too! Visit this link to  Farm & Forest webpage for all the details. NH Farm to Restaurant  ConnectionPresident, Charlie Burke will be presenting an informational session on the “Certified Local” Program.

NH Dairy Promotion’s annual Mac and Cheese Competition is just around the corner.  Between 2- 6 pm on January 14 at the Holiday Inn in Concord you can sample  mac & cheese entries the 2012 contenders. Check this link for the details .

As 2012 starts off, it’s a good time to think about consumption and make a commitment to choosing local. Even small changes make a difference. Buying coffee from your local roaster versus a national chain may be a good place to start. NH has several quality  coffee roasters. Cafe Monte Alto, Mad River and Black Bear Micro are just a few.

New Hampshire has many local sources for Christmas Trees. Choosing this year’s tree can be a opportunity for family fun and supporting the local economy. Many NH Tree farms offer a holiday experience that goes beyond buying a tree. Visit one of the farms at this link for a day of caroling, cocoa and sleigh rides while you pick the perfect tree.  Support New Hampshire tree farmers this season.

 A Locally Grown Cornucopia at the Winter Farmers’ Market November 19^th at Wentworth Greenhouses.

As you plan your Thanksgiving meal consider visiting this special indoor farmer’s market in Rollingford Sat. Nov.19th  from 10am-2 pm.You can get everything you need for your feast. Wentworth Greenhouses is located at 141 Rollins Road, a mile past Red’s Shoe Barn of Dover.

Farmer’s will be offering cheese, milk, eggs, and butter to apple cider, pears, pie pumpkins, apples, ect… There will be potatoes, carrots, winter squash, onions, beets, leeks, broccoli, parsnips, turnips, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and salad greens. Vaule added items such as dinner rolls, pre-baked pies from locally grown fruit, bread for stuffing, and honey and maple syrup will be offered by some of your favorite producers.

 You can even pre order your local turkey now (see www.seacoasteatlocal.org for details). A wide variety of beef, pork, poultry and will also be available. 

 Is your mouth watering yet?

Helen Brody, author of New Hampshire from Farm to Kitchen, will speak in Bristol on Nov.6th @ 1pm. Helen is also the founder of NH Farm Network. Join her at the Masonic Hall in Bristol to talk  about and sample local seasonal food.

Join in on the conversation about local food and food security Weds. Oct 26 @8pm on Plymouth State University campus ( Hyde Building).

Ever wonder where your food comes from, and how safe it is? How secure is your food?
Food security is made up of three concepts: food availability, food access and food use.

On Wednesday, October 26, from 8-10 p.m., come to Hyde 120 to hear PSU’s Grace Fraser explain the relevance of these issues in modern times.

 October is a great time to visit New Hampshire farms and experience local food. Check out  the  Corn Maze Fair at Coos County farm. Or visit the  Concord Co-op’s Octoberfest to benefit NH Food Bank.  The Conway Scenic Train can take you  on the Pumpkin Patch Express, a  kid friendly ride to the pumpkin patch at White Mountain Cider Company. Or enjoy a lesson in the Art of Seasonal Cooking at D Acres in  Dorchester.

September 28, 2011

North Country Smoke House receives national recognition!

Cooking Light Magazine in its second annual “Best Foods in America” awards selected North Country Smoke House’s Cottage Bacon in its Artisinal Category, , saying “this bacon is sweet and perfectly smoky with just a slight hint of maple-y goodness”. Their bacon was one of only four products in the category, along with pancetta from Wisconsin, a country ham from North Carolina and smoked scallops from Washington.  Congratulations to this family operated smoke house in Claremont!

Now is the time to visit one of New Hampshire’s many  picturesque orchards. Fill a basket with apple varieties for baking, canning or eating fresh. This is a great way to get the family outside and active while supporting local fruit growers. And after the trip to the orchard, the family can gather in the kitchen to transform the fruits into pies, crisps, apple butter, apple sauce… Find an orchard close to you at this link. Visit or recipe page for some apple related recipes.