Down on the Farm events
Get in on the grass-fed beef cook-off, celebrate a sweet anniversary, tell a farm story, drink lots of ‘Burgh-brewed beer, and meet the local heroes!
Edited by Victoria Bradley

Growing Presence

Farming is all about community, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is encouraging farmers to share their histories, stories, and features of the farming lifestyle through media outlets. NSAC is offering FARM (Farm & Agriculture Resources for the Media) to familiarize farmers with media workings and how to promote their personal stories of the sustainable agriculture movement, increase awareness of their products, build credibility, and create a fan-base. An online toolkit is available to provide farmers with links for individual topics, such as interview tips, press release writing, and a sample media kit. Farmers can also become part of an NSAC Farm Database and participate in an online Webinar focusing on public relations tools and tactics. NSAC, sustainableagriculture.net. — Alyssa Kruse

Cook Off !

Jamison Farm will host the third annual Grass- Fed Beef Challenge, in cooperation with PASA and Slow Food Pittsburgh, on August 6 and 7. “This is an artisan beef tasting in every sense,” says Virginia Phillips, Slow Food Pittsburgh leader. “Care is lavished and art and talent come into play with every decision a grassfed beef farmer makes. Taste and texture vary and depend on breed, diet, the age of the animal.” Contestants will grill their own Delmonico steaks for a panel of judges, including professional chefs, food writers, and editors, including Edible Allegheny Executive Editor Victoria Bradley. Jamison Farm, 171 Jamison Lane, Latrobe. 800.237.5262. www.jamisonfarm.com PASA.  www.pasafarming.org/cookoff

September 2 Savor Pittsburgh

On September 2, the region’s finest chefs will once again come together for the grandest (and most delicious!) foodie competition under the white tents in the SouthSide Works. This year, the competition is stacked higher than ever, with restaurants such as Sonoma Grille, Walnut Grove, Steelhead Brasserie and Wine Bar, and Cioppino all competing for “Best Dish of the Year.” But, also coveted is the “People’s Choice Award,” which guests get to vote for after a taste tour of the entire event. Tickets are $60 and include dinner, drinks, and live music. All proceeds benefit the American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania. Savor Pittsburgh, www.savorpgh.com

September 11 Fourth Annual Steel City Big Pour

Think of it as a pre-Oktoberfest outing when Construction Junction welcomes the Fourth Annual Steel City Big Pour, aka “Big Pour Four,” to its Point Breeze space on September 11. The two sessions afternoon and evening — each offer “three hours of beer, life, art, and music,” sell out quickly, says Construction Junction operations director Shannon Clover. Guests will be able to sample brews from Smuttynose Brewing Company, Slippery Rock’s own North Country Brewing, local brewery Full Pint Brewing, and more, as well as bites from Bocktown Beer & Grill, East End Food Co-op, Giant Eagle Market District, and more. Plus, beer connoisseurs can purchase growlers that can be filled at participating breweries after the event. Construction Junction, 214 North Lexington St., Point Breeze. 412.243.5025. www.constructionjunction.org — Katie Mavrich

2010 Local Hero Awards

Each year, Edible Allegheny readers vote for their Local Heroes, leaders in the food community whose commitment to the region is inspiring.

Non-Profit Winner

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that continues to work with the local community. At the end of the season, local farms and farmers’ markets donate produce to GPCFB, which helps to serve 11 counties in the Greater Pittsburgh area. This Local Hero awardee also sets up 13 Farmer Stands in distressed neighborhoods that otherwise would not have a farmers market. Support the Food Bank by donating a bag of fresh produce at GPCFB’s tomato and garlic event on August 29, “Red, Ripe, and Roasted,” and receive free admission to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, 1 North Linden St., Duquesne. 412.460.3663. www.pittsburghfoodbank.org — Ally Oleynik

Food Artisan Winner

BreadWorks’ dedication to being a local bakery has earned the respect of many bread lovers. BreadWorks distributes products to bakeries in the Pittsburgh area and purchases ingredients from locals. Owner Fred Hartman comments, “It is important because bread is the first thing that hits the table when you eat somewhere.” BreadWorks, 2110 Brighton Road, North Side. 412.231.7555. — A.O.

Chef/ Restaurant Winner

Isabela on Grandview Chefs Dan and Sherri Leiphart not only cook up seasonal and local foods in their fine-dining restaurant on Mt. Washington, but also at regional farmers’ markets. Fall is always a fun time for this husband and wife pair to use fresh and local ingredients. They even visit local farms to see their ingredients in their “warm and primitive state.” Isabela on Grandview, 1318 Grandview Ave., Mt. Washington. 412.431.5882. www.isabelaongrandview.com — A.O.

Farm / Farmer Winner

Janoski’s Farm and Greenhouse hosts a Farm City Day Weekend each year, and this year marks the third anniversary of the event, which will take place on July 31 and August 1. Visitors can pick a variety of homegrown vegetables, participate in an educational hayride, or set up a booth of their own to share their products and expertise with others. “We also sell food items in our kitchen,” says owner Patty Janoski. She points out that because these sell for only a dollar each, a family can eat a hearty, healthy meal, for a reasonable price. Janoski’s Farm and Greenhouse, 1714 State Route 30, Clinton. 724.899.3438. — Roxanne Rodriguez

Beverage Artisan Winner

La Casa Narcisi Winery has been making wine in Pittsburgh since the Narcisi family emigrated from Italy in the early 1900s. The winemaking knack has led to La Casa Narcisi, a restaurant, winery, and location of a Saturday farmers’ market. This year, the family won a Local Hero Award for their commitment to Pittsburgh wine. “This is our home,” says owner Tony Narcisi. “There’s a sense of pride about this place. Wine has always been our passion, since our family came over from Italy. There’s no reason why we can’t do that here. A wine takes on the character of the region. We have a shorter growing season, but it also lends to a different kind of grape. There’s a lot of things that we can grow even better here than in California or Europe.” La Casa Narcisi Winery, 4578 Gibsonia Road, Gibsonia, 724.444.4744. www.narcisiwinery.com — Jessie Cadle

The Pittsburgh Prize

PurBlu, Inc. rewarded six local organizations with funding to get its sustainable projects off the ground. GIVE Energy drink, PurBlu’s “all-natural energy drink on a mission,” in collaboration with the Sprout Fund, put on a contest that challenged the region’s eco-friendly minds to come up with newfound ways to make Pittsburgh a greener place. The call for proposals ran from mid-February until the end of March, when Growth Through Energy + Community Health (GTECH) Strategies was chosen as the grand-prize winner. GTECH received $10,000 to jump-start its “ReFuel Pgh” effort — an initiative to get excess cooking oil out of our sewers and into biodiesel vehicles. PurBlu sought projects that were innovative, cutting-edge, and would have a far-reaching impact, says Field Marketing Manager Emily Baker. The Pittsburgh Prize, as the contest was dubbed, highlights GIVE Energy’s commitment to help consumers, as Baker says, “support local charities on an everyday trip to the store.” PurBlu Beverages, One Oxford Centre, Suite 820, Downtown. 412.281.9808. www.drinkgive.com gtech, 214 North Lexington Street, Homewood. 412.241.1013. www.gtechstrategies.org The Sprout Fund, 5423 Penn Avenue, Highland Park. 412.325.0646. www.sproutfund.org — R.R.

Movable Feast

The fourth annual Rachel’s Sustainable Feast will take place on the Rachel Carson Bridge on August 29. Some of the region’s best chefs, such as Kevin Sousa of Salt of the Earth, will be making some tasty selections using local food products. Other local participants set to attend are Keith Fuller of Six Penn Kitchen, Steve Salvi of Fede Artisan Pasta, Penn’s Corner Farm Alliance, Turner Daily Farms, and the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture. Rachel’s Sustainable Feast is the 103rd anniversary of local environmentalist, scientist, and author Rachel Carson’s birth. This event has longbeen supporting local farmers’ markets, eco-friendly vendors, and more sustainable living choices within Pennsylvania. Rachel Carson Homestead Association, Rachel Carson Bridge at 9th St., Downtown. 724.274.5459. — Veronica Kawka

Fudge-y Anniversary

Free homemade fudge. (Need I say more?) Shenot Farm in Wexford is celebrating its 35th anniversary of making homemade cream and butter fudge this season. In honor of the delectable anniversary, Shenot is holding monthly contests where one winner receives a free pound of fudge. Contests include word searches, available online, and a name-that fudge- flavor in store. Anyone is eligible to participate, and a winner will be selected from correct entries turned in at the store. The winner can choose their fudge prize from any one of Shenot’s 50 flavors. Shenot Farm, 3754 Wexford Run Road, Wexford, 724.935.2542. www.shenotfarm.com — J.C.

No Kid Hungry

While summer, for most kids, means plump juicy watermelon full of seeds for spewing at unlucky siblings, some kids in Allegheny County are going hungry. Just Harvest, an Allegheny County non-profit organization, created a new program that links existing after school food providers with the Summer Food Service Program, so that more kids in need will have access to meals over the summer months. The program is one of five finalists in Share Our Strength’s national No Kid Hungry Innovation Award, where the winner receives $25,000. Their project was chosen because it aims to open more meal sites, (more than 125 sites currently exist throughout the county), increase cooperation between preexisting food sites and give local government control over the program with the hope that they leave — as the contest’s motto touts — “no kid hungry.” Just Harvest, justharvest.org. Share Our Strength, www.join.strength.org — J.C.