Kevin Fogle
One of my preferent affectionate - weather activities ( when I ’m not drop time in my garden ) is learning about and celebrating regional culinary usage that feature ingredients traditionally get in my area . Local solid food are particular . They have cryptical roots and are essential elements that help bind various mathematical group of people together with a singular partake comestible inheritance . One of the most popular and fun ways to enjoy local vegetable and fruits is at small , regional intellectual nourishment festivals . Over the last few class , I ’ve attended a number of local case dedicate to diverse produce like Abelmoschus esculentus , hemangioma simplex , sweet potatoes , peanuts , peaches and heirloom tomatoes .
I spent part of last Saturday at the Tasty Tomato Festival here in South Carolina . Put on by a local non-profit-making organisation dedicate to supporting sustainable farming methods in central South Carolina , the fete helps fire funds for their important mission . Well - planned events like this provide agriculturalist and foodies alike a chance to talk to gardeners , farmers , chefs and other knowledgeable common people about growing and consuming tomatoes and other local garden truck .
An afternoon pass at a typical festival will also involve live music , sample of the featured ingredients , foods that foreground produce from local chef and community of interests organizations , and a variety of other action . And as a playfulness aside , many of these events even include a private-enterprise angle , like the old county or DoS fair , where you’re able to enter produce that you grew to be judged for skillful tasting , greatest size or perfect appearance . At the Tasty Tomato Festival one of our family friends took first place in a tomato photo contest with a great picture of an heirloom love apple glistening in the morning dew at their suburban micro - farm .
Sadly , some of the intellectual nourishment base festivals have outgrown their local origin and have become more like declamatory carnival with entertainment rides , Battle of Midway games and non - local concession stand that have nothing to do with the professed melodic theme of the consequence . An okra solemnization here in South Carolina has nearly make this sad status . Of the dozens of food stands , only one or two of the venders offered eatable okra plant snacks . alternatively , visitors are treat to the usual fare : fried Oreos , monolithic dud legs , funnel cakes and ribbon Fry . While I am trusted the larger festivals help bring in more money for the desirable local organizations that put on the events , they should not misplace their focus on education and white plague of wonderful local factor that make every town or region special and unique .
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