'Vote with Your Spoon' at farm-to-table soup supper Nov. 13

Posted November 06, 2016 10:00 pm

Rebekah Axtell

Pat and Larry Frieders of Aurora celebrate the opening of Grace Holistic Center for Education at the first "Souper Sundae" event Oct. 9. Courtesy of Joshua Schultz

Five Fox Valley farms will be featured at a "Souper Sundae" community dinner event from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Ginger and Soul Catering, 131 E. Hydraulic St. in downtown Yorkville.

A variety of soups made from local, organically grown, and non-GMO produce will be served.

This second of three "Souper Sundae" all-you-can-eat supper events is co-hosted by Grace Holistic Center for Education, a new alternative school providing organic school lunches to students in Yorkville.

Farmstand cool weather crops like broccoli, butternut squash, cauliflower, leeks, purple beans and heirloom tomatoes are some of the local produce to be featured in soups by Chef Kate McNamara.

Fox Valley producers include Big Rock Organics (Big Rock), Bountiful Blessings Farm (Hinkley), Community Supported Agriculture (Sandwich), Ferndell Farms (Newark), and Renewed Roots Initiative (Aurora). Guests will learn ways to "vote with their spoon" to rebuild local food security by supporting local agriculture.

Finding local farm produce is a major challenge at restaurants and grocery stores in Fox Valley.

"I visited several local farms to pick up fresh produce and to speak with farmers about their agricultural practices. There are many challenges for our local farms in the marketplace," said event co-organizer Rebekah Axtell.

"There is so much amazing local produce available, but it's not all getting to our tables. Most USDA certified organic produce on shelves today are overseas imports. Retailers and restaurants can help by seeking local sources, improving signage and directing customers to locally grown products and menu items," Axtell said.

Tickets for "Souper Sundae" are $15 or $5 for kids under 5. Vegetarian and vegan soup options will be served. Each all-you-can eat soup supper includes fresh baked artisan breads and an ice cream sundae from event co-host Foxy's Ice Cream. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Co-host Grace Holistic Center for Education welcomes guests before and after supper for tours of the new prekindergarten and K-12 alternative school at 3 and 7 p.m. at 210 Beaver St. in Yorkville. For details, call Tairi Grace (630) 708-3116 for prekindergarten and K-12 student enrollment and pro-rated tuition. Visit www.ghcfe.org.

Learn more at www.greenlife.today.

Generous support is provided by Band of Farmers - The Chicagoland Community Supported Agriculture Coalition and by GreenLife Media Group. For more on Community Supported Agriculture Farms, contact Robin Shirmer (708) 370-8017, info@bandoffarmers.org or www.bandoffarmers.org.

Community Supported Agriculture fall harvest is preserved by pickling and packing in Mason jars by Chef Kate McNamara of Ginger & Soul Catering in Yorkville. Courtesy of Rebekah Axtell

Purple string beans are produced by Big Rock Organics, a local Community Supported Agriculture farm operated by Donna Lehrer in Big Rock. Courtesy of Joshua Schultz

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