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Second Truro Agricultural Fair Draws a Hungry Crowd
The Truro Agricultural Fair tempted an estimated 4500-5000 fairgoers into trying all sorts of fresh, local treats harvested from the hills and waters of Truro and beyond. From heirloom vegetables, local honey, fruits and jams, fresh clams and oysters, Mac’s popular “SeaDogs” (lobster tail on a stick), to 22 mouth-watering home-baked pies from the Pie-Baking Contest, there was something for everyone to taste and take home.
“I sold all my honey!” exclaimed Marge Childs happily at the end of a busy day. Marge and her husband Skip raise bees and offer fairgoers not only their golden honey but an observation hive, information about the life cycle of honeybees, and an understanding of pollination and the benefits of increased garden yields.
“I could have sold pounds more rustica, an heirloom Italian arugula,” noted Stephanie Rein, owner of Out There Organics and one of the organizers of the fair. “My greens went like crazy too,” added Dave DeWitt, another of the fair’s co-founders. “And there are a lot more customers who plan to come back for more in the coming weeks. They didn’t know that I offered this variety.” DeWitt founded Dave’s Greens this spring and offers over 20 different kinds of locally raised greens along with other vegetables at his farmstand at Rock Spray Nursery in Truro Center. “We all feel the fair is a success if it increases business for local harvesters – it’s our own version of an economic stimulus package. And it’s one that can grow and grow!”
Over 30 farmers and harvesters took part in the 2010 Truro Agricultural Fair, a celebration of agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and farming on the Cape. Four restaurants offered local fare. Other highlights included a short speech by MDAR Commissioner Scott Soares and Dan Wolf mingled among the crowd pledging his support for the sustainable future of the Cape. The central Harvest Market – complete with the Long Table where anyone can sell their Cape harvest – was busy all day and the stage hopped with fiddlers’ bands. The music stopped periodically for pie-eating contests that drew cheering throngs. “I have blueberries all over me,” exclaimed a triumphant, fruit-covered winner. “I go with my blue ribbon!”
In addition to blueberries there are muffins, cookies, cakes, sweets and pies galore lining the “Community Baked” Table. Supplied by and for the community, the incredible variety of home-baked treats is yet another way that many participate and support the fair. A gingerbread baker from Wellfleet remarked, “It feels wonderful to bake something for a country fair – I just wanted to do my part. It’s great to be involved in such a fine day.”
“And I support the fair by buying and eating!” added his wife.
Hungry fairgoers are a key element to the fair’s success. So, too, are the Truro selectmen, police & DPW, town administrator and health department, the lead sponsors including Seamens’ Bank, the many individuals and businesses that donate, and the teams of volunteers and bakers (ranging in age from 6 to 86!) – without whom the fair would not exist.
The Truro Agricultural Fair is as much about growing community as it is about food. There is a positive, celebratory aspect to the fair – a feeling that together we can all contribute in meaningful ways. “Our goal is to gather in celebration of local food,” explains co-founder and Executive Director Francie Randolph. “Yet a key element is also to offer information about the sustainability of our world – positive steps each of us can take to help sustain our physical health, land and water resources. Buying local is important, but so is encouraging growing and harvesting local. We can all take steps toward maintaining the health of the environment that enables the Cape’s harvest.”
There are no entrance fees and all activities are free and staffed by volunteers; the fair focuses tightly upon funneling fairgoers’ dollars directly to the local harvesters. Randolph adds, “In this way people really feel their dollars are contributing and making a difference – and they absolutely are.”
New farmer Peter Burgess reflects, "After selling out all of my fingerling potatoes and winter squash at the first fair, this year I expanded the size of my garden by sharing growing space with cooperative, like-minded people. This has allowed me to grow enough produce to supply one local restaurant and two markets.” He adds with a smile, “My whole purpose was summed up by Ellie, a little girl who visited my garden with her dad and pulled up a carrot: Oooh. OOOOhhhh. This smells so good… is this really a carrot?”
Next Year
The next Truro Agricultural Fair is scheduled for the Sunday of Labor Day weekend - September 4, 2011 - with a rain date the following Sunday. The fair continues its educational mission throughout the year with the Truro Children’s Community Garden and a lecture and film series. If you’d like to be on the mailing list, become a sponsor, volunteer or just find out more, visit our website.