http://www.freshwise.com/Education.html

Rochester area educators, food service professionals, and administrators are invited to participate in an evening of brainstorming and collaboration to address and work on creative solutions to a problem that is relatively unique to this generation: how to empower our children to make informed food choices. Teachers from the Rochester area are invited to meet from 4 to 6:30pm on Thursday, February 17th at Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Avenue, between Scio & Gibbs Sts) to engage in a guided brainstorming session to tackle this issue. We want to hear your voice!

Please RSVP to Derek Crowe (contact below) no later than Feb. 8th if you plan on attending.

THIS EVENT IS BEING SUBMITTED THROUGH THE RCSD HEALTH DEPTARTMENT TO COUNT TOWARD YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS, PENDING REVIEW.

<< What is this?

Freshwise Farms, a social enterprise of Foodlink, is interested in establishing a farm to school program with Rochester area schools. Farm to school is a nation-wide movement that encourages small-scale, local action by bridging gaps between local farms and schools. It unites the community, cafeteria, and classroom by bringing students and lessons to farms while encouraging healthy eating by helping schools source food from local farmers.

We recognize that your input is necessary – this program cannot succeed without it. In the end, it will be the students who design and shape their farm to school program, so the first step in this process is hearing from you; the guardians of their education. You need no prior understanding of farm to school to participate in this evening. Your perspective as an educational professional is what we’re looking for – we need your expertise regarding current educational standards and ideal best practices for integrating agriculture, nutrition, and food systems awareness into our children’s education.

<< What to Expect

• You will be required to commit to attend the event on February 17th from 4:00 to 6:30pm.
• You will be invited to eat some delicious hors d’oeuvres.
• We will ask that you fill out a short bio sheet.  (to be distributed upon RSVP)
• You will be divided into teams of 6.
• You will experience the process of ideation, details of which will be explained soon! (it’s exciting, we promise)
• Your team will create a SHORT presentation outlining the problem as you see it and some of your ideas to be presented to the group.

<< Why Participate?

• Your ideas will have a real impact with social, educational, political and radical results. This evening is the initial phase in a long term plan for building a farm to school program in Rochester.  We will use your input to shape the next event; a charrette in which your students will have the opportunity to design the farm to school program.
• Tackle a real-world problem in a unique way.
• Hear farmers and farm-to-school experts from around the region talk about the problem.
• Be part of shaping the future of this region.
• Work with professionals from other schools in the area.
• Earn professional development hours. (pending review)

If you are interested in learning more, watch this video to explore more about farm to school or contact:

Derek Crowe at dcrowe@foodlinkny.org or (585) 328-3380 x157.

Be sure to watch this site for more updates! Also, if you have ideas or feedback for this event, just email Derek!

This event is called a charrette (pronounced [shuh-ret]), and consists of an intense design-based collaborative project. Charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution through interdisciplinary collaborative work, integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. You can go to http://www.vimeo.com/9541807 to access a video documenting a previous charrette on which this meeting structure/form will be based, hosted by COLAB at Syracuse University. *note: this video serves to outline the structiure of a charrette, we will not be discussing ‘bright flight’ at this event.

Rochester, do you smell that?  Sniff beyond the Genesee River and you will discover that the lilacs are blooming.

Lilac Festival - High School Musical style

This is a sweeping generalization, but this has to be Rochester’s favorite time of the year.  We are finally done with snow (knock on wood, this is Rochester), the sun is shining, and it’s the official beginning of festival season.  Foodlink was bit by the festival bug this year, and is treating it with a heavy dose of the Lilac Festival.  Below is the Foodlink Lilac Festival Guide, with all the information about where we will be during the ten days of lilac fun.

Freshwise Food Booth – May 14-23

Foodlink is committed to fresh, healthy food and is bringing it to the festival scene!  Visit the Freshwise booth at the Cornell Cooperative Extension on Highland Avenue for a fresh take on festival food.  Forget your deep fried this and that; try Freshwise’s grass-fed burgers, portabella sandwiches, mixed green salads, and fruit smoothies.  Freshwise uses local product that is good for you.  No diet-busters or mystery meat here, just good food for a good cause.  Look for the Freshwise booth at your other favorite festivals this summer.

Foodlink Info Booth – May 18

Foodlink will have an info table at the WROC/Fox Rochester tent, courtesy of our friends at the news station.  Visit our table to learn more about Foodlink, register to volunteer, or to sign up for our Pound for Pound Challenge!

Lilacs ‘N Bubbles – May 18

The Lilac Festival is a party, so you should celebrate with New York State Sparkling Wine!  Taste sparkling wines paired with Freshwise Farms’ greens and learn about New York’s sparkling wine industry from three well-known wine enthusiasts.  Tickets are $20 in advance.  More info

Gala in the Park – May 20, 5-8pm

Gourmet food, beautiful botanicals and Jazz Fest favorite Carolyn Wonderland – do you have your tickets yet?!  The Gala in the Park is a lovely evening at the Lilac Festival to benefit Foodlink.  Enjoy appetizers in the beautiful Lamberton Conservatory, gourmet dinner by Freshwise, and VIP seating for blues musician Carolyn Wonderland.  This year Foodlink will honor William Mulligan Sr., founder of the Genesee Valley Regional Market, for his dedication to the regional food system.  Tickets are $50 before May 10 and $60 after May 10.  Tables for 8 people are $350.  Contact me (585) 328-3380 x156 or moberst@foodlinkny.org for tickets.  Did I mention this is a great Mother’s Day present?  Hint, hint, nudge, nudge.  Your mother will love you for it.  More info

Farmers’ Market and Wine Tasting – May 20, 12-7pm

To wrap up the festival, Freshwise Farms will be at the Farmers’ Market and Wine Tasting as part of Wine ‘N Blues Day presented by Casa Larga.  Sip, sample and purchase wine from local wineries and enjoy greens from Freshwise Farms.  Bring your market basket; you don’t want to leave without Freshwise greens and a bottle of wine!  A small fee will apply, covering all samples and a commemorative tasting glass.  More info

Whew, you got all that?  Feel free to call Foodlink at (585) 328-3380 if you have any questions on what we are doing.  Bring out the kettle corn, indie artists and Festival Guy; it’s on!

Maria Oberst

Resource Development Manager and Lilac Aficionado

Today, Freshwise Farms will host 14 third graders from Allendale Columbia School; where students develop a life-long enthusiasm for learning.  They will participate in transplanting cucumbers, peppers and fresh herbs for our winter indoor crops.

Freshwise is a Social Enterprise of Foodlink.  All profits go to fighting hunger in our community through the Foodlink Foundation.

Tonight is the kick off for the Winter Edition of the Brighton Farmers Market.  Freshwise will be there and we will have fresh hydroponic tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, endive and escarole.  The Winter Edition Market is at the Atonement Lutheran Church, 1900 Westfall Road Rochester which is between S. Winton and Edgewood.  It will be open every Tuesday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm starting today, November 10, and running through December 22.

For more information visit  http://www.brightonfarmersmarket.org/

For directions to the market click here

Freshwise is a Social Enterprise of Foodlink.  All profits go to fighting hunger in our community through the Foodlink Foundation.

I was lucky to have joined friends for a great harvest dinner at Lento showcasing local products including Freshwise greens!

Just one of our very loyal customers, restaurant Lento served up a fantastic fall meal to highlight some of our regions best fresh products.  The menu included:

A fall salad with Freshwise mixed lettuce greens, pears, candied walnuts and sherry vinaigrette

The main course was a roasted turkey from Simple Gifts Farm served with apple chestnut gravy, sweet and sour purple cabbage, maple glazed Raindance Farms carrots and Hakuri turnips, Eaton Farms brussel sprouts with applewood bacon.

For dessert, warm apple pie with house made vanilla ice cream.

Wine was pared perfectly by Stephen Rees serving a Conti Di Buscareto Verdicchio form Italy and a Scott Harvey Red Zinfandel from Amador CA.

Jill A. Rowell

Freshwise Catering is braving the weather today through Sunday, June 28, at the Rochester HarborFest at Ontario Beach. We offer the freshest food made from local ingredients, all while supporting a great cause! Come join us for a tasty burger made from grass-fed beef, a delicious salad using Freshwise Farms greens, or a refreshing smoothie made from local strawberries.

Today marked the first day of the Foodlink Farmers’ Market 2009 season. Several hundred people joined us in Washington Square Park in downtown Rochester to browse the local produce and enjoy the beautiful weather. Our vendors this week were Lagoner Farms (Fruit & Vegetables), Freshwise Farms (Hydroponic Greens), Small World Bakery (Breads), The Nut House (Nuts & Dried Fruit Mixes), and Freshwise Kitchen (hot prepared foods, salads, and smoothies). Four additional vendors will be joining us in the upcoming weeks. We were also joined by News 10 and RNews who were there to capture the amazing fresh and local products on film, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) brought a public service exhibit related to the Digital TV transition. Nick Finzer was on hand playing Jazz music and had several attendees dancing to the music. Thank you to all who were able to come out and support our local growers today. If you missed it there is still plenty of time. The Foodlink Farmers’ Market will run every Wednesday from 11am to 2pm through September 30th. For more information contact Heather Knauf at (585) 328-3380 x142 or hknauf@foodlinkny.org. Hope to see you there!