From tomatoes to tamales: Local World Food Day celebration creates globally inspired menu

Megan Macauley (right) of Somesville samples pickled blueberries made by Silvia Mathewson (left) of Planet Naskeag. Photo by John Boit.

BLUE HILL—Local farmers gathered for World Food Day with a free community dinner at George Stevens Academy (GSA) on Oct. 16.

The event drew local farmers and food producers, as well as area organizations focused on healthy eating and food security. The event included a community dinner with ingredients sourced and made locally, from King Hill Farm tomatoes used for pizza, tamales from My Little Dumpling, apples from Five Star Orchard used in apple crumble, and Downeast Mushrooms’ products used in a shiitake rice dish.

The event was organized by FarmDrop and GSA. FarmDrop is an online marketplace for local farmers in Maine to sell directly to customers.

“We really wanted to partner with GSA on their first public community food event, bringing students and the community an educational experience around our combined food systems’ mission of farm viability and food access,” said Hannah Semler, CEO of FarmDrop.

Chef Lu of George Stevens Academy (right) serves up a salad with with GSA sophomore Corwin Allen (left) for World Food Day. Photo by Eve Violette.