For Immediate Release 1/26/07

Contact: Valerie Stuart
Marketing Director, Strolling of the Heifers   
email: stuartcomm@comcast.net
phone: 802-338-6578         

Strolling of the Heifers Invites Public to Harvest Tasting to Kick Off Buy Local Challenge

Brattleboro, VT --The Strolling of the Heifers invites the public to a Harvest Tasting on Friday, November 3, 2006 to celebrate local agriculture and kick off the Stroll's Buy Local Challenge. The Gallery Walk Night affair will take place from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro. The public is welcome to stop by and savor local food samples, ranging from New England buffalo burgers and potato au gratin to apple pie and maple milk shakes.

The local farms that will offer tasty tidbits will include: Dutton Farm; Deer Ridge Farm; Dwight Miller Orchards; Lilac Ridge Farm; Peaked Mountain Farm; Robb Family Farm; and Taylor Farm. The following organizations also will offer farm fresh produce: Brattleboro Food Co-op, Kindle Farm, Valley Ridge School, Vermont Cheese Council, Vermont Fresh Network, and Slow Food USA. A number of area restaurants, including Amy’s Bakery, Capers, Chelsea Royal Diner and Riverview Café, will provide samples created from local produce.

The younger generation won’t want to miss the fun-filled kids’ activities led by the Stroll ’s Dairy Godmother Amelia Struthers. Another event highlight will be music by Ned Phoenix and Friends. Ned will be playing the fiddle along with Alan Partridge on guitar and Colin Blaze on bass. Gerry James will play percussion.

Local foodies will want to see the selection of the Local Roots Recipe Contest Winners. For more details about how to enter your favorite local root, vegetable or other recipe, call Lisa Holderness at 254-3540.

The public will have the opportunity to sign up and make their personal pledges to Buy Local at the event. The goal of the 10-month Buy Local Challenge is to educate area residents  about the benefits of buying locally and increase their purchases of local food. The Buy Local Challenge will be supported by public awareness building print, radio and retail advertising.

Sponsors of the Stroll’s Buy Local Challenge include Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; Vermont Community Foundation; Windham Regional Commission; Building a Better Brattleboro, Gallery Walk; Brattleboro Reformer; and WKVT. For more information on where you can purchase local products, log on to: www.vermontagriculture.com.

The mission of the Strolling of the Heifers is to promote awareness of the importance of agriculture in our daily lives and to raise money to fund educationally oriented agricultural programs for youth. Log on to www.strollingoftheheifers.com for details.