Group That Supports Local Farmers, Producers Celebrates 15 Years In Sarasota, Bradenton

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Community Harvest SRQ will celebrate its 15th anniversary this summer with a garden party Aug. 23, 5 to 8 p.m., at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota.

The nonprofit is dedicated to supporting a sustainable and thriving local food system — from community gardens to commercial farmers, Andrew Hudson, program director, told Patch.

Those attending the anniversary celebration will enjoy a seasonal, locally sourced menu featuring pumpkin, sweet potatoes, pastured poultry and fresh seafood from Sarasota Bay.

The event will also include a “Meet the Fermers” showcase featuring young and minority producers, a silent auction with items from local businesses, and storytelling with Community Harvest SRQ leaders.

The organization formed in 2010 as part of the international Transition Towns Movement, which was a response to climate change, economic instability in the wake of the recession and concerns about peak oil.

“We believe that our local foodshed is the key to be resilient, no matter how the future plays out,” said Hudson, a longtime organic farmer who has helped with the organization for years before becoming part of the staff this year.

See Also:

• Corporate Culture Inspires New FL Coffee Brand Founded By 2 College Friends
• Community Bank Expands On FL’s West Coast With New Bradenton Location
• 2 Jackpot-Winning FL Lottery Tickets Sold At Same Publix 2 Months Apart
• Popular Kid's Amusement Center Opens First Adult Arcade In FL
• New Soft-Serve Ice Cream Shop Celebrates Grand Opening In St. Pete

The three pillars of the organization’s mission are “local food, local economics and local community,” he said. “That guides our work.”

• Farmers Market Produce Recovery, which prevents leftover produce from local farmers markets from going to waste by giving it to food panties and organizations feeding those who are food insecure.
• The Suncoast Gleaning Project, which partners with farms and producers in Manatee County to harvest excess produce for area food banks.
• Suncoast Fruit Rescue, which collects unharvested fruit from yards and neighborhood trees for food pantries.
• Eat Local Week, an education initiative focused on local food options and opportunities that is scheduled for Nov. 1-9 this year.
• Eat Local Guide, offering detailed listings for local food producers, businesses and organizations.

The Aug. 23 anniversary event will celebrate the work the organization has accomplished over the past 15 years and educate attendees about the local foodshed.

“We’re excited. We’re going to have five different types of growers representing the different types, including permaculture, a homesteader, a (University of Florida) farm incubator,” Hudson said. “We’ll have a range of people that represent different aspects of the foodshed, and we’ll talk about what a foodshed is and how great it can be. Everybody has a stake in it and it’s time to have all hands on deck there.”

• Get The Latest Local News (For Free!) With One Quick Tap