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America’s Grow-a-Row ‘Farm to Fork’ dinner to honor Bonnie Duncan

By Hunterdon County Democrat
on April 07, 2015 at 8:34 PM

America’s Grow-a-Row third annual Farm to Fork Dinner will take place Saturday, May 2, at Life Camp in Pottersville. The dining room doors will open at 7 p.m. when guests will enjoy the speaking program featuring AGAR President and Founder, Chip Paillex. AGAR will be honoring Bonnie Duncan, Executive Director of the United Way of Hunterdon County, for her extensive work in serving the local community.

Proceeds will benefit America’s Grow-a-Row (AGAR), a nonprofit organization that grows and gleans fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables that are donated to those suffering from hunger and those living in “food deserts,” or areas that lack access to fresh, affordable produce, throughout the state of New Jersey.

Farm to Fork features local food artisans, a wine and craft beer tasting, a farm fresh dinner, and fine auctions. This year the opening reception is extended so guests will have plenty of time to meet the local food artisans including Fulper Family Farmstead, Readington River Farm, Black River Roasters, Alstede Farms, and more and enjoy the wine, spirits, and craft beer tastings from 14 vendors organized by Michael Cedro of Riverside Wine & Liquors.

During the reception, there will be a great selection of silent auctions and raffle baskets to bid on including everything from fine dining, rounds of golf and couples’ nights out to sporting events, beautiful jewelry and travel packages.

The buffet menu will include the following specialties of caterers, Ross & Owren, featuring hand carved whole herb rubbed pork roast, roasted salmon filets finished with watercress and lemon oil, warm salad of new potatoes with creamy aioli dressing, platter of spring’s first English peas, sugar snaps, radishes, asparagus, haricot verts finished with lemon oil and maldon salt flakes, corn muffins, rolls, sweet butter, and rich chocolate cake with berries for dessert.

Proceeds will help AGAR reach their 2015 goals of donating more than 1 million pounds of farm-fresh food to various hunger relief agencies in New Jersey while at the same time educating people of all ages about hunger, the importance of agriculture, and healthy eating. AGAR, supported by nearly 4,000 volunteers who harvest produce throughout the growing season, hosts 750 young people from low-income urban areas at their farm through the Growing Healthy Kids Farm Day, provides Free Farm Markets in Newark, Camden, and Jersey City and hosts Recipient Volunteering events for the recipients of the produce so that they can harvest fresh food for other communities in need. This opportunity to participate in a volunteer capacity enables those served to give back to the program in a fulfilling and meaningful way. In 2014, AGAR’s President and Founder, Chip Paillex, was honored with the recognition of CNN Hero and Ford Motor Company Go Further Everyday Hero.

The Farm to Fork Fundraiser is dedicated to celebrating the important work done by AGAR.

AGAR thanks the following corporate sponsors who have committed their support to the event: Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., ExxonMobil, PSE&G, Brickman Landscaping, and ShopRite of Hunterdon County.

Tickets to the event cost $125. To buy tickets or to make a tax-deductible contribution, visit www.americasgrowarow.org/2015-farm-fork.