Farm to Fork highlights local produce

By kalea hall

khall@vindy.com

GREEN

When White House Fruit Farm in Green Township wanted to join in the Farm-to-Fork movement last year, Debbie Pifer decided it was best to take the event in a different way.

Pifer wanted the proceeds from the dinner to go to a charity, and she wanted to make sure the guests understood the importance of buying local produce and other items.

“[The event] is to showcase our wonderful agriculture that we either have here [at White House] or in the tri-county area,” Pifer said.

The second Farm-to-Fork event, sponsored by Covelli Enterprises, takes place at 5 p.m. Sunday. The 100 expected guests will dine on White House’s front lawn, tour the farm grounds and learn about how local produce is grown. All proceeds from the $100 tickets purchased will go to United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley.

“We have seen this done around the country,” Pifer said. “We decided to go the charity route.”

At the event, food will be prepared in front of the guests and will feature produce from White House, red potatoes from Jim Van Pelt’s farm and ice cream from Handel’s.

Ross Scianna, chef at Antone’s Banquet Center, said he is excited to be a part of this year’s Farm-to-Fork event.

“The menu is not only unique, but it is an entertaining evening,” Scianna said.

In the future, Pifer does not think it would be possible to invite more than 100 people, but she hopes to continue the event every year.

“It is just another way to inform folks that it is time to buy local,” Pifer said. “All of us need all the support we can get from local communities.”