This blog post was originally submitted on the ES Department’s Environmental Thinking blog by Jeff Meltzer

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In the culmination of Food Week last Friday afternoon, there was an all-campus celebration of food.  The Food Day carnival was meant to promote healthier diets, to support local sustainable farms, and to spread environmental awareness.  Hundreds of students, faculty, and their families converged on Dana Lawn to eat and learn about local foods, to meet local vendors, to listen to relevant presentations, to talk with student groups, and to visit the petting zoo.

The fair was a big hit for students, vendors, faculty, and families alike. The fair featured everything from make-your-own caramel apples to a petting zoo.

Local vendors were sampling, promoting, and selling their foods while spreading messages about supporting local agriculture.  Vendors included Selah Tea, Kennebec Cheesery, Winterberry Farm, MOO Milk, and Maynard’s Chocolates to name a few.

There were four half hour presentations; Avery Beck (ES student ‘14) and myself presented on the Colby Organic Garden, ES professor Travis Reynolds talked about reform of the American food system, David Gulak of Barrels Community Market discussed the benefits of buying local, and David Bright of MOO Milk spoke about the importance of local control in preserving farming heritage.

The student and kid favorite was probably the petting zoo, featuring a llama, baby goats, rabbits, a mule, and a horse.

Dining Staff, with the help of ES student Matt Lapine, grilled up some local beef patties. In the foreground, students commented on the pros and cons of eating locally and sustainably.

The menu included locally-sourced foods like beef sliders, Apple Farm flambé over Gifford’s ice cream, Maine lobster macaroni and cheese, and my personal favorite, local goat cheese and bedrock caramelized onion pizza.

This event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of a student group led by senior Julie Levine, as well as Joe Klaus of Dining Services.  The event was co-sponsored by SPB, SGA, Campus Life, Goldfarb, the Environmental Studies department, Sodexo, and EnviroCo.  Hopefully the success of this year’s food day will ensure its continuation into future years!