Rows upon rows of freshly harvested vegetables and the latest in artisan foods and handcrafted items will converge at the Third Annual Good Food Fest in Kimberton, Chester County, on Sunday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A massive farmers market like no other, it’s a celebration of local agriculture made possible by their premier sponsor Kimberton Whole Foods. The event offers a chance to meet the farmers and artisans behind the best of what our region has to offer. It’s also a chance to get a head start on your holiday shopping.
“We have a lot of great artisan foods like hot sauce for the hot sauce lover in your life by Goodlands Food Co.,” said Christy Campli, owner of Growing Roots Partners, which organizes the event. “Sundry Mornings Spice Co. makes a bloody Mary mix that’s great for Thanksgiving morning.”
There are also some non-food related gifts to consider, such as pottery, wood-carved items, jewelry, fibers and soaps.
New this year
New at the Fest this year is an opportunity for you to get VIP access to the over 100 vendors that will be in attendance for a solid hour before the event begins.
“It’s a chance to beat the crowds, skip long lines and get easy parking,” said Campli. “You get first dibs at shopping and a free Good Food Fest swag bag.”
In that bag, VIP ticket holders will get to place two to three items from producers that are covered under the $25 VIP tickets that are in limited supply.
“We’re excited that it offers the die-hards the chance to get an intimate shopping experience,” she said. “You really have time to shop before the crowds and talk to your favorite producers and meet new producers.”
Upgrades to demo kitchen
Also new this year are some upgrades to the cooking demo kitchen that will make it bigger and better.
“We are moving our demo kitchen outside to an auxiliary tent, which offers more space and more ability to cook,” she said. “It’s being presented by the Chester County Food Bank. It’s free to enter the demos, but they will be accepting donations.”
The Pasta Lab of Philadelphia is one of the new additions to the demo kitchen lineup this year. A producer of fresh pasta made with freshly milled, locally sourced grains, will demo a mushroom ravioli recipe.
“They use Horse Shoe Ranch eggs and cheese from Birchrun Hills and Valley Milkhouse,” Campli said. “They’ll be featuring the mushroom grower, Mycopolitan Mushrooms, who will co-present with them.”
Another new addition to the demo kitchen lineup is Good Girls Bakery, West Chester, which will demo how to make a Basque Sweet Potato Cheesecake.
New growers
As for the event’s new growers joining this year, you can find Bailey Springs Farm of Coatesville, Barking Dog Farm of Unionville and Forge Hill Farms of Downingtown.
Among their new artisan offerings, Taylor Chip Cookies of Lancaster will have their famous cookies available.
“They are a cookie producer that has a big following on Instagram,” Campli said. “They are really chunky, stuffed cookies.”
Succession Fermentory will be new to the event’s Pouring Room this year. Based in Cochranville, Succession will be offering sour and farmhouse ales using locally-grown ingredients that are aligned with the event’s values of supporting local farmers.
“Whether they are making beer or pasta using local grains, we are celebrating PA agriculture in many ways,” Campli said.
Collaborative brew
Adult beverages that will be returning include the Fest’s signature Husk & Hops blue corn lager, a collaborative brew between Suburban Brewing Co. of Honey Brook and Deer Creek Malthouse of Glen Mills.
Campli’s hope for visitors of the Fest is that they, most importantly, get to know and be connected with their food.
“I want people to connect with local producers and get to know the people who are making their food,” she said. “Making food fun can help bridge the gap to get more people out to farmers markets and it brings awareness to them.”
If you go
A celebration of local agriculture that’s an event for the entire family offering kids’ crafts, live animals, over 100 vendors, 14 food trucks, a Pouring Room, live music and more. The event will be held Sunday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. VIP hours start at 10 a.m. In addition to Kimberton Whole Foods, the Good Food Fest is supported by many other sponsors who help make it possible, including AgConnect, Penn Medicine and Ephrata National Bank. General admission is $10 online and at the door (pre-purchase us highly advised) and VIP tickets $25 and must be purchased in advance. Kids under 12 are free. This event will be held rain or shine (the event is under cover) For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.goodfarmsgoodfood.com