LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University continued to grow its commitment to local agriculture on Friday, Feb. 20, during the annual Local Food Fair.
The community came out to the Clive M. Beck Athletic Center to buy local food, meet growers and learn about innovative programs.
“The Local Food Fair is a way Transylvania can connect our local farmers—especially those offering a Community Supported Agriculture program—with potential costumers and a way for us to connect the general public with growers,” said Angela Poe, director of the sustainability office, which hosts the fair.
Customers of a CSA support farms through buying a share of the harvest. In turn, they receive boxes or baskets of fresh produce throughout the growing season. “Buying into a CSA can be intimidating if you haven’t done it before, but the Local Food Fair gives people a chance to talk to multiple farmers, face-to-face, about the CSA offerings,” Poe said. “This helps them get comfortable with the idea and find the CSA that will best fit their needs.”
Participating farms included: Elmwood Stock, Fresh Stop Lexington, Triple J, Bellaire Blooms, Pine Barren, Stone Burr and McMaine’s Riverhaven. The Lexington and Bluegrass Farmers’ Markets were also represented, along with SeedLeaf, FoodChain and Sunny Side Up. Athenian Grill was on-hand serving food, so fair visitors could grab lunch or a snack while they talked to local farmers.
Sustainability is a core value at Transylvania, which means the school has a strong commitment to local producers. This past October, for example, Agriculture Commissioner James Comer applauded the university for joining the state’s Farm to Campus Program—while standing in front a massive display of locally grown jack-o’-lanterns.