When it comes to food, eating local is the new fashion. In an exciting new move to promote local producers, Sturgeon County partners with the Haunted Pumpkin Festival to whip up regional menus for the first annual Sturgeon County Bounty.
In this one-day-only taste event this Saturday, 11 producers, vendors and businesses are cooking up 30 mouth-watering dishes from ingredients grown, produced and packaged within travelling distance.
“We’re actively looking at developing a value added food chain,” says Patrick Earl, Sturgeon County economic development specialist.
Here on the home turf, more and more foodies are asking questions about the environmental, social and economic impact of the global supply chain and they’re trying to find healthier options, mostly at local farmers’ markets.
And contrary to the mistaken belief that cold climates have limited variety, this one-day cuisine event is all about showcasing the diversity of our harvest. “We asked ‘what could we do to help grow businesses and help the consumer buy local?’ And this is an event that fits in the Capital region food plan.”
While some of the small-portion dishes are comfort foods that evoke childhood memories, others stir up thoughts of faraway flavours.
It’s easy to picture grandma’s kitchen with barbecued beef on a bun, roasted potatoes, vegetable soup, saskatoon trifle and lemon zucchini cake. For the more adventurous palate, there’s Caribbean pork tenderloin, grilled lamb souvlaki, bratwurst sausages and Italian meatloaf made from alpaca.
For the health conscious, wheat grass juice, hot apple honey cider, pumpkin harvest spice nuts and pea butter rocky road squares and granola bars are also available.
“This is a great way for a family to enjoy a fall day.”
The Bounty is paired with the Haunted Pumpkin Festival, a proven family attraction with a haunted house, pumpkin cannon, puppet shows, scarecrow-building, corn maze and bale jumps.
Entrance tickets to the Sturgeon County Bounty and Haunted Pumpkin Festival are $15 and that includes six food sample tickets. Additional tickets are available for $1 each.
Sturgeon County Bounty is located at Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm, one kilometre northeast of Bon Accord on Highway 28.
