Eat well, do well at this year’s Farm to Fork Picnic
August 22, 2024
Support local family farms and sample dishes from top Charlotte chefs at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
What happens when dozens of local chefs, farmers, food artisans and mixologists come together in a lush botanical setting? A gastronomic garden party, of course.
On Sept. 29, Piedmont Culinary Guild (PCG) hosts its annual Farm to Fork Picnic in the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont. Founded in 2012, PCG is a network of chefs, farmers, food artisans and others working to preserve the local foodshed.
Photographs by GeoCore Creative
“This annual fundraiser helps PCG raise money for our farm grant program, which helps small family farms in our region,” says Kris Reid, founder and executive director of PCG. All proceeds support area farmers, Reid says, with half the money going directly to grant recipients (selected by the N.C. Cooperative Extension) and half going to the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS). CEFS supports and develops new farming programs in the state.
Guests can enjoy more than 30 tasting stations, where chefs and farmers pair up to create dishes with fresh, regionally sourced ingredients. Pairings include Stagioni and Charlotte Fish Company; Mimosa Grill and Dover Vineyards; and Thoughtful Baking and Wild Hope Farm.
Mixologist Larry Suggs, co-founder of the roaming bar Ramble Drinkery, will create craft cocktails with North Carolina spirits. N.C.-made beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages will also be available.
PCG is a grassroots nonprofit funded solely by membership dues. Prior to 2020, the organization was flourishing, Reid says. But after a pandemic pause, membership waned, and PCG is still rebuilding. The organization hosts monthly meetups for members and for its Tastemakers group of culinary enthusiasts.
“This work has never been more important, as the American Farmland Trust (AFT) has listed North Carolina as the second most endangered state for agriculture land loss,” Reid says. According to a recent AFT report, the state is expected to lose nearly 1.2 million acres of agricultural land by 2040.
— Cathy Martin
Photographs by Ryan Allen
Farm to Fork: In the Garden
Sept. 29 l 4 – 7 p.m.
6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont
Tickets are $125; guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets. There will be a designated kids play zone, and little ones can also enjoy DSBG’s Lost Hollow children’s garden. Children 6 and under are free; 6-12 are $50. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit piedmontculinaryguild.com.
