Up North Foodies

Farm Bill Benefits Area Specialty Farmers

Nikki Rothwell, Michigan State University District Extension Horticulturist and the Coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Station, writes in today's Record-Eagle about the new Farm Bill and its affect on area specialty crop growers. For the first time, the Farm Bill mentions specialty crops, which are any agricultural crop that is not corn, wheat, soybeans, or cotton. That applies to the majority of farmers in this region, and this group of crops has not received direct subsidies.

Ready to Pick Rhubarb

Rhubarb is in season late May through June. Check out the Michigan Land Use Institute's Ready to Pick article on rhubarb for recipes, selection and storage tips, nutritional info and fun facts. You can also search for local farms that offer rhubarb. Do you have a good rhubarb recipe? Submit one by June 20 for your chance to win a great local food prize.

Taste the Local Difference 2008 Guide

Keep an eye out for the 2008 Taste the Local Difference food guide available for free at stores, visitor centers, libraries, farmers markets and other spots throughout eight northern Michigan counties. The guide lists nearly 250 farms and lots of local food and farm products available in northwest Michigan. Perfect to keep in your glovebox! Also check out the project website, which offers a PDF version of the guide to download, as well as a handy search feature where you can find specifically what you're looking for.

Local Food Exchange Online

Looking for pasture-raised natural beef or Heirloom Brandywine Tomato Plants? Both are currently listed on the Local Food Exchange Marketplace forum, operated by the Michigan Land Use Institute. The marketplace is an updated version of the "TDL Wholesale" service they operated last year. Use the forum to let people know what you have to sell or what you're looking to buy. MLUI's Taste the Local Difference program will help get the word out by including recent postings in email they send to hundreds of local farm and food businesses in the region.

Michigan Wine “Exotic” to Some

Adam Satchwell, winemaker at Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay, recounts in the Detroit News a dinner organized last month by Jonathon Alsop of the Boston Wine School. The dinner featured exotic wines, including Shady Lane Cellars' Sparkling Riesling and Late Harvest Vignoles. "When Jonathon told me he was pitching this dinner under the label of 'exotic,' I at first laughed," Satchell wrote to columnist Sandra Silfven. "Michigan exotic? Then with a little time, it dawned on me that what Jonathon was perceiving and pitching as exotic was truly just that to the good people of Boston."

Food for Thought - Last Call for Help

Just a reminder to voice your support for Food For Thought, which is facing a zoning hearing June 4 at 7 p.m. at the Platte Township hall to determine whether the company can continue doing business at its current location. The company was recently informed it needs a special land use permit to do so.

Company founder Timothy Young reports that the zoning administrator plans to recommend approval of the application, noting that the company meet the zoning requirements. But the administrator also stressed the importance of public input. Your presence at the meeting and your letters matter, and currently letters are at about 50/50 for and against. Letters are due this week.

For more details, including where to send your letter of support, please see Food for Thought needs your help. As noted in that post, if you can't attend the meeting or write a letter, please post a comment in support of Food for Thought. I'll print them off at the end of the day on Wednesday May 28 and mail them to the zoning administrator.

UPDATE: The deadline for comments has been extended through Tuesday. You can email the Zoning Administrator, Craig Seger and his assistant, Chris Flynn directly at CSeger@benzieco.net and CFlynn@benzieco.net or mail letters to Craig Seger, Zoning Administrator, Benzie Zoning Department, 448 Court Place, Beulah, MI 49617.

Batali to support Leelanau Conservancy Again

Chef Mario Batali is lending his support to the Leelanau Conservancy for the fourth year in a row. His meal for 12 will be auctioned off at the conservancy's annual picnic on August 7. If you're thinking of bidding, bring the big bucks. In its first year, the dinner raised $25,000 in a silent auction, and in the following it raised $42,000 after moving to a live-auction format. Last year it hit $67,000. Details about the dinner will be posted later on the conservancy's website.

Moomers Wins!

Congratulations to Moomers Homemade Ice Cream, voted the country's best ice cream shop by a Good Morning America poll that ran this week on the GMA website. A camera crew will be at Moomers tomorrow from 6 - 8 a.m. for a live satellite broadcast to announce the news, and customers will receive free ice cream during filming. "From the bottom of our hearts, we'd like to thank the legion of Moomer's fans that have emailed, voted, and passed-the-word," say the folks at Moomers. "We are utterly grateful and overwhelmed by the support we received."

Leelanau Wineries Host Inaugural Premium Pour

Here's your chance to taste some of the best wines from Leelanau County. What a great reason for a road trip up north! The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association's first ever Premium Pour wine trail event takes place June 7, 2008. This inaugural year features a pour of rare, library and estate wines from each of nine Leelanau wineries. Tickets are available online at $25 each. Learn more about the featured wines at Absolute Michigan.

What’s in my lunch?

A sporadic posting of brown bag inspiration.

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Grilled asparagus with sweet corn, tomato and chive butter sauce

Tastes like summer. ( Even if it doesn't feel like it outside!)

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Ready to Pick Asparagus

Ah, it must be spring even though the chilly temperatures make you wonder! Michigan Land Use Institute kicks off another season of Ready to Pick with new asparagus recipes. In season here from early May to late June, local asparagus started appearing in area stores and roadside stands this past week. Check out the site for details on their 2nd Annual Recipe Contest, with five monthly categories from June through October.

Moomers in top 4 in Good Morning America’s Ice Cream Challenge

Moomers Homemade Ice Cream was chosen by Good Morning America as one of the top ice cream shops in the country, and will be featured on Good Morning America Weekend on Sunday, May 18, during the 8-9 a.m. segment. People can vote online following the segment through Friday, May 23, with the winner announced on Good Morning America on May 24.

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Food For Thought needs your help

After being named Benzie County Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Year last October, Food for Thought's future may be threatened. The company was informed that it needs to apply for a Special Land Use Permit to continue doing business, and there is some opposition to their application. Please show your support for Food for Thought by writing to the zoning administrator or attending a zoning board hearing June 4. If you're tight for time, just post a comment here by May 28, along with your name and city, and I will print this off and send it to the zoning administrator.

Whether you're into the enviro green or the "show me the money" green, Food for Thought has your particular shade covered.

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