As many as 200 guests will be dining on red Thai curry braised beef short ribs, mushroom pesto pasta and zucchini steak with summer succotash in an as yet secret location all to support a program that teaches kids about where their food comes from.
A few tickets might still be available at the Coquitlam Farmers Market Long Table Dinner planned for this Wednesday, Aug. 29, to raise funds for the Power of Produce Club.
“These are two good programs to engage with the community and get all sectors of the population involved,” said Tabitha McLaughlin, executive director of the Coquitlam Farmers Market, who said she is pleased with the success of both the Long Table Dinner, now in its third year, and the children’s POP program.
More than 200 children ages five to 12 have already participated in the program that takes place during the Coquitlam Farmers Market every Sunday.
Thanks to funds raised at the Long Table Dinner, children get to learn about produce, try new fruits and vegetables, meet local farmers, do crafts and projects that teach them about growing food, pollination and other aspects of the food system.
They also get a $3 token to spend at the market.
“If you can help kids now make healthy food choices, the hope is they will be more conscientious shoppers,” McLaughlin said.
POP continues each Sunday until the end of the Coquitlam Farmers Market season in October, but the hope is there will be enough funds raised at the dinner to possibly extend it into the winter market that takes place at the Port Moody recreation centre.
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