Local Farmers & Chefs Featured at
Twin Cities Food & Wine Experience Feb. 23-24

CONTACT: Jill McLaughlin, Food Alliance Midwest, 651-209-3382

2/15/08
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Food Alliance Midwest-certified farmers and eight distinctive chefs dedicated to local growers and sustainable agriculture will be featured at the Twin Cities Food and Wine Experience, Feb. 23-24, at the Minneapolis Convention Center (1301 2nd Ave. S.). The “Minnesota Cooks” cooking demonstrations will take place on the Minnesota Cooks Stage, which is sponsored by Whole Foods Market. For a schedule of the Minnesota Cooks demonstrations, visit http://www.foodwineshow.com/mnCooksStage.html.

This year’s lineup of chefs includes: Anna Christoforides of Gardens of Salonica, Scott Pampuch of Corner Table, Judi Barsness of Chez Jude, Mike Phillips of the Craftsman, Scott Graden of New Scenic Café, Nick Schneider of Café Brenda, Nathalie Johnson of Signature Café, and JD Fratzke of the Strip Club Meat and Fish.

Food Alliance Midwest-certified growers participating include Cedar Summit Farm, Hidden Stream Farm, Thousand Hills Cattle Company, Pepin Heights Orchard, Coughlin Stock Farm, Whistling Well Farm and the Lamb Shoppe.

The event will be hosted by Brenda Langton and Sue Zelickson. Langton is a sustainable foods advocate and owner of Café Brenda and Spoonriver Restaurant. Zelickson is host of WCCO Radio’s Food for Thought and a food writer for Minnesota Monthly magazine.

The Minnesota Cooks event is co-presented by Minnesota Farmers Union, Food Alliance Midwest and Renewing the Countryside. Minnesota Cooks receives major sponsorship from the Agricultural Utilization Resource Institute (AURI).

Minnesota Farmers Union (www.mfu.org) is a nonprofit membership-based organization working to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers, as well as rural communities.

Food Alliance Midwest (www.foodalliance.org) is a nonprofit, third-party certification program for environmentally friendly and socially responsible agricultural practices, and is dedicated to promoting the expanded use of sustainable farming systems in the Midwest. Food Alliance Midwest, a joint project of Cooperative Development Services and the Land Stewardship Project, is an affiliate of the Food Alliance, based in Portland, Ore.

Renewing the Countryside (www.renewingthecountryside.org) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing inspiration, ideas and assistance to individuals and communities looking for sustainable ways to strengthen their rural communities and reduce poverty.

AURI (www.auri.org), created and supported by the Minnesota Legislature, is an innovative nonprofit corporation working to enhance Minnesota’s economy through the development of new uses and new markets for the state’s agricultural products.

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