Let's Pull the Plug on Hunger and Wash it Down the Drain

A record breaking 13 teams competed in the 6^th Annual CANstruction event in Rochester.  CANstruction, a charity committed to ending hunger, is using “one can” as a catalyst for change.  CANstruction’s 6^th annual Rochester design-build competition puts a visual spotlight on hunger while showcasing the Western New York design community’s best and brightest! Click here to view this year’s winners!

Foodlink would like to thank all participating teams:

Take a Bite Out of Hunger

-          Wegmans Development Group

-          Kids CAN Too

-          ASCE Rochester

-          The Pike Company

-          Gardner Plus Architects

-          QCI Direct

-          SEI Design Group

-          Passero Associates

-          HBT Architects

-          Labella Associates

-          Popli Architects

-          Bergmann Associates

-          Clark Patterson Lee

To see all the team’s great CANstructures visit Foodlink’s Facebook page!  www.facebook.com/foodlink

Thanks to our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for hosting the fun and informative “Localvore Fair” on Saturday, September 3^rd! During this “stay-cation” almost 300 attendees sampled some delicious local produce, learned about the Locavore movement, and even made veggie art. I particularly enjoyed the Upstate Farms yogurt and 4 varieties of cucumbers.

During the fair a statement by Maggie Brooks was read, deeming September “Locavore” month in Rochester. The term Locavore, or Localvore, was coined in 2007 and has been used since then to describe people who are interested in eating food grown as locally, or shipped within as few miles as possible.

Foodlink was on hand to promote using SNAP benefits at local farmers markets to get healthy, fresh produce even on a limited budget. Information about our Farm to School program in Penfield was also available. The kids all loved our veggie stamping activity, where they had fun making flowers and organic landscapes from celery, peppers, and potatoes.

To find out about more Localvore month events at CCE you can visit their Healthy Monroe webpage. Also keep an eye out for other celebrations of eating local foods! And keep crunching those carrots!

Laura Sugarwala, RD

Community Nutrition Program Manager

Join us for a celebration of local flavor on Monday, September 19^th, from 6 to 9pm at the Rochester Public Market.  The Festival of Food features over 100 local restaurants, wineries, breweries, bakeries and farms sampling the best food and drink in the region.

The Festival of Food is an exciting event for Foodlink to raise money for our mission while bringing people together for a night filled with food, music and fun.  We take pride in promoting local businesses as well as the award winning Rochester Public Market.  We hope you will join us at this special event and help in our fight to end hunger and build self-sufficiency in our community.

Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.  They are available at Wegmans, the Rochester Public Market, www.festivaloffood.org, or by calling Foodlink at (585) 328-3380.

Thank You to everyone who attended yesterday’s Genesee Valley Regional Food Shed Meeting at Foodlink! And thank you to our special guest, NYS Agriculture & Markets Commissioner Darrel Aubertine for attending.

Rachel Staver, Foodlink’s Nutrition Resource Manager, was featured last week on 13 WHAM-TV talking about how to eat healthy! Check it out.

http://bit.ly/qgbYkO

The 2011 Summer Meals Event at Sahlen’s Stadium was a great success! Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special for all the children! Big Thank You to the Rochester Rhino’s for hosting the event!