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Berkshire Tidbits: Farmstands and Fairs
By Judith Lerner, Special to iBerkshires
06:38PM / Monday, August 01, 2016
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A firefighter grills chicken for a fundraising dinner in 2012. Both Tyringham and Sandisfield have barbecues coming up next week.


Market Manager Jessica Conzo Vecchia takes coupons from a shopper at the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers' Market in 2015.

In this height of farmers' market season — stands full of local corn, tomatoes, lettuces, herbs, zucchinis and so much more — farmers' market coupons for income-eligible seniors 60 and over are finally being distributed in Berkshire County starting this week.

The coupons are also available for disabled people under 60 who live in congregate housing that has a meal site such as Crossway Tower in Lee, Providence Court in Pittsfield and Heaton Court in Stockbridge.

The income level for farmers' market coupon eligibility is 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines.

Participants in the federal supplemental food program for Women, Infants and Children/WIC also "receive these nutrition benefits in the summer in addition to the regular WIC food package."

Current coupons are worth $25 per recipient. They may be used to purchase "fresh, nutritious, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs" directly from farmers at farmers' markets, authorized farmstands and CSAs/Community Supported Agriculture farms. But there are no local farmstand or CSAs that take them.

Most Berkshire farmers' markets accept the senior coupons. But some are not set up to take coupons of any sort — not SNAP/EBT, WIC or the senior farmers market coupons. These include Hancock, Lee (although market manager Kathy DeVarennes told me the market is in process of getting all the paperwork filled out to accept these) and some of the e-vendors at the Lenox market.

Ask before planning to use the coupons.

The Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market on the First Street Common on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. is able to double the buying power of the senior coupons.

Market Manager Jessica Conzo Vecchia said, "Our Double Value Program launched on July 2, so we were anxiously awaiting the senior coupons alongside all of you! We will run the program until our funds are depleted."

She added, "We are encouraging folks to come and double their coupons ASAP. They can come back to use them all throughout the season."

Anne Hogeland, market manager of the Williamstown farmers' market said they are not equipped to take SNAP/EBT or regular WIC payments but they have set aside a small fund to double the farmers' market coupons for both seniors and WIC recipients, up to the limit of those funds.

Twenty-two of Berkshire County's towns have requested the coupons leaving resident of 10 towns to request them from nearby towns or Elder Services of Berkshire County in Pittsfield, 413 0524.

Bonnie diTomaso of Elder Services, Ext. 750, who has been in charge of coupon distribution for the last two years, suggested that residents of Alford, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Savoy, Tyringham, West Stockbridge request coupons in Egremont, Great Barrington, Sheffield, Becket, Lenox, Windsor, Lee or Stockbridge.

The Farmers Market Nutrition Program actually began in Massachusetts in 1986. After some testing, the U. S Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service took over the funding which is now administered through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

 

Here's a bit more Farmers' Market information …

Berkshire Grown, our region's agricultural supporter and promoter, has a wonderful tab, Map-o-licious, on its website with lots of detail about their members. You can click on CSA, Farm Stands, Farmers' Markets, Pick Your Own or Restaurants. And see who is doing what, where and when.

The 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday farmers market at Community Health Programs/CHP, 442 Stockbridge Road/Route 7 in Great Barrington, offers double SNAP/food stamp benefits at their market although it does not double WIC or senior farmers market coupons.

 

On Friday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m., The Yoked Parish of Becket presents its free monthly pasta dinner. All are welcome.

Parish minister, the Rev. Kevin Smail said the meal includes a pasta dish, salad, Italian or garlic bread and an assortment of mostly homemade desserts and beverages.

The purpose of the regular meals is to build community, he said.

The free dinner will be at the parish house of the Becket Federated Church, 413-623-5217, 3381 Main St. across from the Becket Washington elementary school.

 

This Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 5, 6 and 7), the Adams Agricultural Fair — the 42nd one! — will be back at Bowe Field/the Adams Agricultural Fairgrounds, 371 Old Columbia St., off Route 8.

The Adams Agricultural Fair is the showcase for agriculture in Berkshire County and Southern Vermont.

How fun it will be to see, again, those washed-clean and neatly trimmed sheep and the muzzled cows, tables full of plates and baskets everyone's perfect vegetables — cabbages, cucumbers, eggplants, garlics, onions, squashes, tomatoes — all those lovely glass jars of colorful pickles, fruits and vegetables, jellies and preserves, the cut flowers in their little vases, bottles of all those homemade beers and wines draped with so many blue ribbons, pies and decorated cakes, paintings laid out and also with red and blue ribbons on them, and so much more.

There will be judging of animals, vegetables and whatever else entrants have brought. There's the annual pie judging sponsored by King Arthur Flour. There's sheep shearing and book signing (Jennifer Trainer Thompson on Saturday at 11:15 a.m.). Bowie the Clown will be there and Tom Riccardi will bring his birds of prey program (Sunday at noon)

A fair prince and princess will be chosen and crowned, bands will play live music much of the time, there will be a horse pull and an ox pull and truck pulls will keep happening and the demolition derby will take place Sunday afternoon at 2, rain or shine.

See the website for all the details and schedule.

A three-day pass for adults costs $20. A single-day adult admission costs $8; children 6 to 18 cost $5; children under 5 can come to the fair for free. Only service dogs, no other dogs or pets will be allowed entry.

Maybe local corn will be ready to sell to eat to show by then, maybe not.

 


This hand-quilted botanical quilt will be raffled off at this year's Church Fair.

The town of Mount Washington will be holding its 75th-plus annual free Church Fair on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the intersection of East St. and Cross Road, http://townofmtwashington.com/churchmouse. The free admission includes a ticket for a door prize.

They might be the only summer fair with a salad bar. Local corn, grilled foods, ice cream, "mountain-made" pies and cakes will also be for sale.

Art and antique dealers Charlie Flint and Scott Martin, both of Lenox, will appraise everyone's treasures at the Mt. Washington Antiques Roadshow from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

An updated and expanded hardcover, spiral-bound version of the town's 1963 community cookbook, "Mountain Cookery," full of past and current residents' recipes will be for sale. If you buy one, you can download one copy of the cookbook to a digital device.

The usual unusual handmade quilt will be raffled off starting at 1:30 p.m. There'll be a silent auction, white elephant sale, artists, artisans, music, a clown, face painting and more.

Mount Washington's summer-only Church of Christ will donate most of the proceeds to a variety of local, national and international secular and religious charities.

 

On Sunday, Aug. 7, from 3 to 5 p.m., chef Julie Gale, owner of At the Kitchen Table Cooking School in Hillsdale, N.Y., will present the third in her summer series of seasonal Asian classes at The Chef's Shop, 31 Railroad St. in Great Barrington, 413-528-0135 or email@thechefsshop.com.

This class is about Korean summer foods. Gale will be making chap chae/sweet potato starch noodles with vegetables, cross-cut Korean marinated and grilled beef short ribs/kalbi and a cucumber and kimchi salad.

Class size is limited to 12 students to encourage everyone to participate. After cooking, the class eats what they've made. There will be a wine selection courtesy of Domaney's Fine Wines of Great Barrington.

The class costs $40. Payment is required in advance with a 48-hour cancellation policy. The Chef's Shop offers students a 10 percent discount on purchases made on a class day and for a couple of days after. Call or email with questions or to register.

 

The Tyringham Volunteer Fire Company will not be holding its annual steak and swordfish roast this year. They've substituted a less labor-intensive, more affordable all afternoon and evening block dance on Saturday, Aug. 6 from noon to 9 p.m. $10 donation at the fire pavilion gate; 18 and under come free. Music, Bowie the clown, hot dogs, burgers and pizza for purchase. Maybe local corn, too.

But fire chief Steve Traver said the Richmond Fire Department will be having its annual chicken barbecue at the outdoor picnic tables at the firehouse, 35 Firehouse Lane just west of Route 41 in Richmond at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11.

"Same as always."

A barbecued half chicken, corn-on-the-cob, cole slaw, cookies, other desserts, water or choice of other soft drinks.

Chief Steve said the firefighters will not be going door-to-door selling tickets this year but you can get your $18 ticket at the firehouse, Monday evenings between 6 and 8 or Saturday mornings from 10 to noon.

Fire Chief Ralph Morrison said Sandisfield will have its Fire Department Steak Roast Dinner and Dance on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Sandisfield fire station No. 2, 207 Sandisfield Road/Route 57. The dance will go on until 10 p.m.

Chief Ralph said it would be the same as last year, too. Same menu. Same band. Same price.

Steak, baked potato, corn-on-the-cob, salad, roll and dessert. There will be hamburgers and hot dogs for the children. All beverages will be for sale.

"You have to buy your $25 ticket beforehand because we won't be selling any at the door. You can get them at A&M Auto Service," 7 Tolland Road/Route 57 in Sandisfield, 413-258-3381, or from firefighters.

All tickets will be pre-sold only, and will not be available at the door. Children are free. "Because they will be eating hamburgers and hot dogs," the chief said.

 


Cafe Adam and Spirited Wines array of dishes and wines at a wine dinner earlier this year. Cafe Adam was one of five Berkshire restaurants recognized by Wine Spectator.

Five Berkshire County fine dining and wine establishments have won prestigious Wine Spectator's 2016 Restaurant Awards. The awards highlight restaurants around the world that offer the best wine selections.

Restaurants may achieve one wineglass (Brava in Lenox) as an award of excellence, two wineglasses (Café Adam in Great Barrington, The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge and Wheatleigh in Lenox) as an award of best excellence or three wineglasses (Blantyre in Lenox).

Lenox wine merchant and owner of Spirited Wines James Nejaime said he is "always happy to hear that Berkshire restaurants win such accolades."

"They work very hard choosing their wines carefully, selectively and seriously to give their clients such great wines. And the set their prices at various levels so people have choices," he noted.

"I've been to all of those places and enjoyed them all."

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