The Farmer’s Table, a unique take on the usual fundraiser, celebrates and supports Litchfield County agro-businesses by inviting local farmers to the table for an annual dinner using locally sourced produce prepared by local chefs. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the dinner at Sunny Meadow Farm in Bridgewater, Conn. encouraged conversation between farmers and the community, including a core group that comes each year. For this, the eighth year, the menu had an Asian influence, with Thai venison for the main course. Executive Chef Carol Byer-Alcorace coordinated the menu and 24 local farmers donated produce and participated in the event. Farm owner Steve Shabet grew the sunflowers that were carefully set out on all the tables by committee member Cynthia Oneglia and Chris Giftos, who was the master florist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for many years. Local chefs donate their time and expertise so funds raised can pay for the purchase of CSAs from farmers that will benefit the underserved, a free bi-annual farmer’s forum for more than 100 Litchfield County farmers, a farmer’s input dinner workshop sharing dialog to help farmers be more sustainable, stipends for farm internships for local students, a food hub, and grants for attendance at educational conferences. Farmer's Table is sponsored and created by Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities, a nonprofit organization of friends, supporters and volunteers.

John Pittari, Jr., owner of New Morning Market, Cynthia Oneglia, U.S. Senator for Connecticut Richard Blumenthal and farm owner Steve Shabet during a tour of the dining area in the barn.
Farmer’s Table volunteer Michael McGill, and committee members Pucci McGill, Helen Bartlett, Julie Bailey, Kay Carroll, Kristen Atlas and Ken Atlas.
Bob and Lisa Wilson, owners of Acre of Independence Farm in Woodbury, and Sylvia Ovalles.
Michael Maddalena, Susan Bishop-Wrabel and Gene Wrabel.
Sheryl Leach, Rosemary Ripley with the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy and Frogard Ryan.
Martha Bernstein, board chair of the Connecticut Community Foundation, and Sharon Vaghi representing Litchfield Distillery.  
Farmer’s Table committee members Nicole Matthews and Lucinda Pittari with Akira, the chocolate Lab that belongs to the Shabets.
Bill Burgess, president of Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities, Inc., and Mary Risley, founder of Tante Marie’s Cooking School and Food Runners in San Francisco.

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Written by
Jo Ann Jaacks