Summit County Citizens Voice

Local produce, like these tomatoes from Nancy’s Garden, will be featured at a community harvest dinner benefiting the High Country Conservation Center. Photo by Bob Berwyn.

Frisco event to benefit the High Country Conservation Center

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Summit County will celebrate the growing local and sustainable food movement with a special Oct. 4 harvest dinner at Vinny’s Euro American Restaurant in Frisco.

The feast will benefit the High Country Conservation Center, which has been instrumental in supporting local community gardens and spurring awareness of the importance of locally produced food. The special menu is composed entirely of food grown or raised within a 160-mile radius of Summit County.

These days, most of the food you purchase in the supermarket can travel nearly 2,000 miles before it reaches your plate, sometimes spending days, or even weeks, in warehouses. The harvest dinner ingredients will be picked just a few days before the event.

“We have abundant options, from cattle ranches to orchards to large organic farms within 200 miles of Summit County,” said HC3′s community programs director Jen Santry. “We now have five thriving community gardens that have provided over 300 community members with a place to grow their own summer greens and veggies.”

The dinner will feature a four-course meal with vegetables, fruit, meat and cheeses donated from local farmers and community gardens including The Living Classroom and Nancy’s Community Garden in Frisco, Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy (105 miles away), Uncle John’s Farm Stand, Grant Farms and CSA (145 miles), Forte Farms (162 miles), Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy (64 miles), Lay Valley Bison Ranch (150 miles), Grower’s Organic (65 miles), and Higgles Ice Cream.

“We knew that using seasonal produce and what we could source locally would be a challenge, since most chefs and home cooks are used to having whatever they want as an ingredient no matter what season it is, but Vinny has once again created an exciting menu,” Santry said.

In addition to highlighting local food options, harvest festivals have traditionally brought entire villages or communities together to celebrate food production and the land. In our modern times, we forget how important and often fragile our food systems are.

“By acknowledging harvest season and showcasing our home- grown, Colorado foods, I think it helps bring that connection back to us,” Santry said.

This event is made possible with the help of Vinny’s Restaurant in Frisco. Vinny’s Euro American menu is based off of the availability of seasonal ingredients. Chef Vinny Monarca has extensive experience in cooking with fresh ingredients and creating healthy dishes.

Space is very limited in the intimate setting of Vinny’s Restaurant, so reservations are required. The cost of the dinner is $50 for adults and $20 for children (gratuity and drinks are not included).

All proceeds benefit the High Country Conservation Center. For more information about the Harvest Dinner and to reserve your seat, please contact the Conservation Center at 970- 668-5703 or visit our website at www.highcountryconservation.org.

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, events, Food, Frisco, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news Tagged: | Colorado, community gardens, Frisco, Slow Food, sustainable food