Cool (and yummy) Summer Recipes

With the extreme heat lately taking a toll on our outdoors activities, crops, and air conditioning bill, we find it fitting to provide you with 10 “cool” summer recipes.  From the creamy cucumber spread to the snickers salad, you’ll be sure to find something delicious to cool you down from the heat and fill your snacking desire.

You can find the recipes here.

We’re partial to trying the watermelon ice, but be sure to let us know your favorite and how it turned out!

Have You Seen “The Maryland Harvest?”

In a culture that is increasingly separated from its agricultural roots, all most Americans know about their food is that it comes from the grocery store.  Pretty disturbing, huh?  Fortunately, the rise of the “Eat Local” movement is helping people all across the country reconnect with the foods they eat and the farmers who grow or raise those foods.

So, we ask again, “Have you seen The Maryland Harvest?”  This is a new hour-long documentary that aired on Maryland Public Television highlighting the partnership between local farmers and chefs, giving the viewers a chance to get to know the farmers who supply the bounty of produce, meat, and seafood they devour.  You may know the host, Al Spoler, as a co-host of “Cellar Notes” radio program and a former MPT director.

The documentary includes interviews with over forty Maryland farmers and eight local chefs who work with them.  This documentary is important for educating the public about how important farming and the farmers are to having nutritious products on our dinner tables.

Tell us – What do you think? How can we educate the public about the importance of farming? And most importantly, have you seen The Maryland Harvest? To read more, check out page 4 of our Farm Credit Leader magazine.

3 Ways Farmers Can Participate in the Farm-to-Food Bank Program

We all know how important (and delicious) local food, fresh from the farm is to incorporate in our diets.  But we also know that it can tend to be viewed as a luxury food in terms of affordability.  Well, the Maryland Food Bank is helping to break that barrier by implementing the Farm-to-Food Bank Program throughout the state.

The program includes a network of farms and cooperatives who have pledged to donate fresh fruits and vegetables to the food bank on a regular basis.  Farmers can participate by:

• donating excess crops
• allowing minimum-custody offenders to conduct final sweeps of fields in cooperation with the Maryland State Department of Corrections, or
• contracting to grow most-needed fruits and vegetables on a portion of land set aside specifically for the food bank

Farms may deliver produce to the Maryland Food Bank or arrange for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly pick-ups.  Then, the food bank will immediately either prepare the fruits and vegetables for meals or reconstitute them into healthy frozen meals for use at a later time.

The farmers’ donations will ensure a steady supply of nutritious food to individuals and families striving to overcome hunger.  We think this is a great partnership of the food bank and local farmers to continue to feed our local communities.  Great work, Maryland Farm Bank!  For a complete list of participating farms and cooperatives, or the join the effort yourself, visit www.mdfoodbank.org.

Eat Local with Dad

Father’s Day is approaching quickly, and are you still figuring out plans to make his day extra special? Well, instead of taking him to a fancy dinner or buying him another tie, consider taking him to the Cecil County Father’s Day Picnic.

The picnic is being held from 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at The Fair Hill Nature Center.  It is being hosted by Cecil County farmers who will be serving food fresh from their farms as the main meal.  Highlighted items include burgers from Sassafras River Beef, cheese from Mooo Over Cheese, chips from Herr’s, milkshakes from Kilby Cream, and apple pic from Milburn Orchards.  We’re hungry already…

This idea came about when Cecil County Agriculture Agent, Doris Behnke wanted to host an event that helped promote the “Eat Local” campaign and reintroduced farms and farming to the consuming public.  She and a small committee determined they would begin a local farm meal program which will host events like this four times per year.  Great idea, Doris!

Now what you’re really wondering is how much this will cost you, right? It’s only $8 per person.  But hurry, because only 150 tickets are being sold and they can be purchased by calling the Cecil County Extension office at 410.996.5280.

So, bring out your whole family to recognize Dad on his special day.  Enjoy local, farm fresh food and spend quality time together hiking the trails to the stream or biking around the park.  Oh, and by the way Mom, you won’t have to do any dishes!

If you attend, post of picture of you and Dad to our Facebook page!