Published: October 03, 2008 12:00 am      

Organic farm cooperatives spread the word about local produce

COOPERSTOWN _ A celebration of local agriculture and a farming way of life was held at the Cooperstown farm of Clifford and Patti Brunner on Thursday.

In the estimated five years that Organic Valley cooperatives of organic family farms has been holding Earth Dinners, it was the first time that such an event was held in this area, those involved said.

Of about 75 guests at the Cooperstown event, 20 were dairy farmers like the Brunners who ship to Organic Valley, said Jamie Johnson, public affairs manager with the cooperative.

The idea behind the event is to encourage people to share at least one meal a year in which they know where their food comes from, she said.

The dinner, catered by Jonah Shaw of Quarter Moon Cafe in Delhi, contains a number of items grown locally, according to the menu. These included squash from SunnySlope Farm in Cooperstown; potatoes and onions from Heller Farm in Bainbridge, garlic from Lucky Dog Farm in Hamden. Dairy products came from Organic Valley and meat from a related cooperative.

It's been a little more than a year that the Brunner farm has been certified organic, said Cliff, who has grown up in the business. The premium price that organic farming provides, in return for adherence to regulations including no use of insecticides or antibiotics, has been essential to helping the family farm continue, he said.

One of the guests at the dinner was Nate Ingalls, a Cooperstown electrician, whose family settled what is today the Brunner Farm back in the 1800s. He has known the Brunners for many years and said it was important to support local producers. His father has an area blueberry business.

Jim Gardiner, an organic diary farmer from Otselic since 1989, said these types of dinners increase awareness of where food comes from and how it is raised.

Because more people are becoming aware of "you are what you eat," he said, they are being more attentive to how their food is raised.