Wegmans Natick Is Showcasing Locally-Sourced Foods

NATICK, MA—Wegmans Natick, which only recently opened, is teaming up with New England suppliers in a celebration they're calling New England Fest.

Visit Wegmans to sample a variety of products, many of which are sourced near the store, during New England Fest on July 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The grocery store is celebrating its supplier partners, including Red Fire Farm in Granby, Massachusetts, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, and Master Sausage Maker Josef Brunner of Artisan Meats, who host presentations throughout the store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.

Wegmans employees also share product samples and information to help customers with easy summer meals and entertaining during the event.

Wegmans Natick opened at the Natick Mall in April and is the grocery chain’s sixth Massachusetts location. The two-story, 146,500 square-foot space features a cart conveyor system with an adjacent escalator to help customers easily navigate the store, and also houses The Burger Bar, Buzz Coffee Shop and Blue Dalia Restaurant & Tequila Bar.

Additional information on New England Fest:

Red Fire Farm

July 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Located in Granby, MA, Red Fire Farm produces a wide array of vegetables, flowers and fruit , and was one of the first certified organic farms in the state when it opened in 2001. Farmer and communications manager Sarah Voiland will be at Wegmans Natick to share information about the farm and showcase products, including several varieties of fresh squash.

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

July 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In June 2011, after much research on how to start a cheesemaking kitchen in America’s most populated city, Beecher’s opened its doors to New York City’s Flatiron District with a new store, café and restaurant. Visitors to the glass-walled cheesemaking kitchens witness firsthand the crafting of Beecher’s signature favorite, Flagship cheese, as well as many other award-winning cheeses. By starting with fresh, pure milk from local farms and applying the traditional methods used by cheesemakers for thousands of years, Beecher’s cheeses are free of artificial ingredients. East Coast sales manager Joey Turshen will be on-hand to offer samples of Wegmans Brand 26 Month Intense Cheddar by Beecher’s Handmade Cheese.

Josef Brunner, Artisan Meats

July 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Josef Brunner grew up in Austria, where he learned the artisan trade of sausage making and developed an appreciation for the craft. After refining his skills at butcher shops in Germany, Beverly Hills and Colorado, he began working as a master sausage maker for Hartmann’s Old World Sausage in Rochester, New York. Founder Brigitte Hartmann later sold her company to the Brunner family, who have successfully owned and operated what became Artisan Meats since November 2004. Josef has worked closely with Wegmans over the years to offer an expansive line of award-winning German sausages and will be in-store at Wegmans Natick, explaining his background in sausage-making, sharing authentic recipes, and sampling his line of Kase Krainer sausages.

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