ECHO’s Food & Farm Fest returns March 9-March 12
After skipping a year because of COVID, the ECHO Farm on 17391 Durrance Road in North Fort Myers is bringing back the Global Food & Farm Festival, and it promises to be the biggest and best ever.
The 24th annual event will take place from March 9 to March 12 starting at 9 a.m. each day, with a schedule filled with fun activities.
Something that started as a one-day celebration of world food and sustainability has grown into a four-day event filled with demonstrations, tours, food tastings and much more.
“There was an opportunity to share more with our community and we scheduled events on different days so more people can participate,” said communications director Danielle Flood. “We’ve been preparing and we’re excited to share the international food tasting.”
The first three days, attendees can experience unique tours, cooking demonstrations, tastings, and make-and-take workshops.
“We will have local chefs offering cooking shows and volunteering their time. We’re very excited about the four-day format.”
The final day, on Saturday, is the open-air Farm Day Festival featuring hands-on activities, cooking demonstrations, tastings, tours and workshops for everyone.
ECHO was able to sneak in the festival in 2020, the first time it was held on multiple days, just as COVID hit, but decided against the event the following year, as it didn’t want to expose its volunteers, many of whom are older, to COVID. ECHO opted for a series of workshops instead.
Wednesday’s schedule kicks off with a Rosy Tomorrows’ cooking demonstration with Rosie O’Dell King of Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm and Phillipe Schroeder, executive chef at the farm’s award-winning restaurant.
Thursday features the always popular, hands-on, step-by step grafting workshop with trees you will be able to take home. Also, award-winning chef David Robbins presents sustainable, nutrient-rich foods that you can incorporate into your kitchen.
Friday will feature an edible backyard design workshop. Guests will have the opportunity to create simple perennial plant arrangements based on design tools learned in the workshop.
There also will be a Tropical Tasting Lunch offered the first three days and live music with local singer/songwriter Emily Mollin.
“We’ve seen great interest in the workshops we’re offering. The topics appeal to homeowners of all sizes. People can have a small garden in a windowsill or porch, and hope people with larger yards come and find ideas and knowledge from the tours and workshops,” Flood said.
Tickets start at $8. Kids 5 and under get in free.
Swag bags are available for the first 300 tickets purchased.
For more information or for tickets, go to www.echonet.org.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com