Oswego, NY -- What better way to show off the harvest bounty in Oswego County than to have folks over for dinner. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is doing just that this Friday with its first Harvest Dinner at the American Foundry in Oswego. The dinner, prepared by three local chefs, will be made from foods produced or grown...
Schroeppel farmer Tony Caltabiano is supplying carrots and garlic for Cooperative Extension of Oswego County's Harvest Dinner Oct. 22. Nearly all the food for the dinner will be grown or produced in Oswego County.Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is doing just that this Friday with its first Harvest Dinner at the American Foundry in Oswego.
The dinner, prepared by three local chefs, will be made from foods produced or grown in Oswego County. The cost is $30 or $55 for two people.
There will be potatoes from the Hopkinson Farm in Williamstown. Pork will be supplied by Mark Mattison of Albion. Vegetables are coming from a farm run by Tony Caltabiano in Schroeppel. And there will be apples from Mark Greco’s farm in Oswego.
“We are hosting the harvest dinner to highlight the great work Oswego County farmers do and to recognize the bounty they worked hard to grow,” said Valerie Walthert, agricultural economic development specialist with Cooperative Extension of Oswego County.
“We also are trying to education the county residents about the availability of products grown right here and the economic significance of agricultural production in Oswego County,” she said.
Publicist Jeff Wallace, who is helping Cooperative Extension with publicity, said beyond the great tasting foods, Oswego County’s farms also are a huge boost to the county’s economy.
“People don’t realize what the vegetable and farming business does to this area,” he said. “From elk meat to onions to everything in between, you have to think about the economics of it. Farming is employing a load of people and provides a commodity we need. And it’s one of the best in the world.”
Three local chefs have been busy creating a menu from all of Oswego County’s bounty.
Julie Powell, author of Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously, will be the guest speaker at the Oswego County Harvest Dinner“We’ll come up with stuff and hope for the best,” he said. “I think this is a wonderful event and a great way to show what Oswego County offers. I’m a strong believer in local foods and organic and this is a way to celebrate the farmers.”
Shawna Galton, chef at Kristi’s Restaurant in Scriba, agrees.
“I hope we will be able to educate people about buying locally,” she said.
Caltabiano is supplying nearly 15 pounds of garlic and carrots for the dinner. He farms about 80 acres of beets, Swiss chard, radishes, cucumbers, garlic, herbs, pumpkins, sweet corn, carrots and squash on county Route 6 in Schroeppel.
“Cooperative Extension called me about putting on the dinner,” he said. “She (Walthert) asked if they’d be able to get certain products from me and I said I’d donate some. It’s nice to make a difference and the dinner also should being a lot of camaraderie with the farmers.”
Mattison grew up on a dairy farm, but got out of dairying in 2001 and now raises beef cattle and pigs through his company called Family Farming Meats.
He got involved with the harvest dinner through his work with the Oswego County Harvest Guide, a booklet that came out last summer listing farmers throughout the county and what they produce.
Mattison is donating 40 pounds of ham, bacon, sausage and other pork products for the dinner.
Harvest Dinner participants
Mountain Ash Elk Ranch, Sandy Creek: Elk
The WW Texas Longhorn Ranch, Constantia: Beef
Mattland Farm, Albion: Pork
Hopkinson Farm, Williamstown: Potatoes
NY Bold, Volney: Onions
Grindstone Farm, Richland: Greens and beets
Caltabiano Farm, Schroeppel: Carrots and garlic
Greco Family Farm, Oswego: Apples
Bieler Enterprises, Williamstown: Cranberries
Ontario Orchards, Oswego: Pears
Godfrey’s Last Stand, Schroeppel: Turnips and rutabagas
Joseph Gingerich Farm, Williamstown: Cabbage and sweet potatoes
Hives of Howard, Oswego: Honey
Fowler Farms, Hannibal: Squash
Oswego Tea Co., Oswego: Focaccia bread
Ashley Lyn Winery, New Haven: Fruit wines
Heritage Hill Farm, Boylston: Maple syrup
Gaetano J. Vasta Farm, Volney: Leeks and celery
Behling Orchards, Mexico: Cider
Appledale Orchards, Mexico: Cider
Jacobson Farm, Volney: Shallots
Paul’s Nursery, Granby: Rosemary and parsley
From outside the county:
Byrne Dairy, Syracuse: Milk
Queensboro Dairy, Canastota: Butter
Contact Debra J. Groom at dgroom@syracuse.com, 470-3254 or 251-5586