Fieldtrip to Foodtopia

“Prepare for your pilgrimage to the world’s only Foodtopian society”. If you haven’t heard yet, this is Asheville. The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is highlighting Asheville as a tourist destination for food. Not just any food, but local, fresh, seasonal food with a story. Tourists and residents alike are requesting local and looking for farm names on the menu. How do you take advantage of this wave? Join the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) as we tour a local farm.

Anne and Aaron Grier of Gaining Ground Farm have been selling to local chefs at tailgate markets for years. As their products expand to include a wide selection of naturally grown seasonal vegetables, herbs, cut flowers and hormone and antibiotic free pork and beef, they are expanding their markets to include the Mountain Food Products.

This free tour for chefs, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, will focus on what will be available locally this season, local seasonal menu planning, promoting local food and farms on a restaurant level and logistics for sourcing product. Come see first hand who is growing food in your community.

Trip includes lunch provided by Laurey’s Catering. Vans will leave the ASAP office at 8am Thursday May 29th and will return after lunch.

To sign up, please contact ASAP at 828-236-1282 or molly@asapconnections.org