116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Culinary Ride, Field to Family Festival aim to connect farmers, consumers
Two local groups are working to spread the word — and the tastes — of local food in Eastern Iowa.
The upcoming Field to Family Festival and several area Culinary Rides will offer a chance to not only taste what local growers have to offer, but also meet the farmers behind the food.
Culinary Ride
The Culinary Ride started as a semiformal fundraiser five years ago. Now it's a registered business, Rad Tour Productions, that offers three organized rides in Iowa and one in Marquette, Mich.
The first ride this year starts and ends at NewBo City Market Aug. 30. Cyclists will take a 45-mile route that winds through Mount Vernon and south to Sutliff before heading back to Cedar Rapids. Along the way, participants will stop at area farms for food cooked by area chefs.
An Iowa City ride will be Sept. 20, and a Quad Cities ride will be Sept. 13.
Organizer Audrey Wiedemeier says the business isn't making any money — she and her business partner Kris Estergaard both have other jobs — but they decided to incorporate to make the finances and paperwork easier to manage.
'I believe in a socially conscious business model,' Wiedemeier says. 'I believe the future of business can move in a more socially conscious direction.'
She says she's thrilled with how much the rides have grown over the years.
'When we did it the first time, I never imagined it would become a thing,' she says. 'It's a lot of (logistics), putting all these pieces together. If someone wants to do a bike ride of local food, that's my passion.'
Ten percent of proceeds from each ride will go to a local non-profit. The NewBo ride will benefit Matthew 25, the Iowa City ride will benefit Youth Off-Road Riders and Farm to School and the Quad Cities ride will benefit the Quad Cities Food Hub.
Field to Family Festival
If biking isn't your thing, but you still want to connect with your food, the Field to Family Festival also is approaching. The event, put on by local non-profit Field to Family, includes a Culinary Walk, a Share the Harvest Dinner and a Local Food Fair.
The fair is new this year.
'It's an opportunity for people to learn about what's happening in local foods and what's happening in our community to build a local food system,' says Field to Family director Michelle Kenyon.
The event will take place during the Iowa City Farmers Market Sept. 15. Farmers who don't normally sell at the market will be present, and local food producers will hand out samples. Organizations like the Grow Johnson County Project and the Johnson County Food Policy Council will talk about their work.
'The farmers market in itself is a showcase of local food, but we have realized a lot of the behind-the-scenes work isn't really known in the community,' Kenyon says.
On Sept. 17, Culinary Walk participants will stroll around downtown Iowa City restaurants. At each stop, the restaurants will serve small plate dishes showcasing local food.
The Share the Harvest Dinner Sept. 20 also will feature local food from several local chefs, paired with drinks featuring local breweries. A keynote address by Doug Alberhasky, owner of John's Grocery, will explore 'Past, Present, Future of Craft Breweries in and around Iowa City.'
IF YOU GO
Culinary Ride
NewBo ride
When: Aug. 30, registration at 9 a.m.
Where: Start at NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids
Cost: $65
Iowa City ride
When: Sept. 20, registration at 8 a.m.
Where: Start at New Pioneer Co-op, 22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa City
Cost: $65
Quad Cities ride
When: Sept. 13, registration at 9 a.m.
Where: Fresh Deli, 421 W. River Drive, Davenport
Cost: $55 to $65
Field to Family Festival
Local Food Fair
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 16
Where: Iowa City Farmers Market, 405 E. Washington St., Iowa City
Culinary Walk
When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 17
Where: Pick up tickets at New Pioneer Co-op, 22 S. Van Buren St., Iowa City
Cost: $15 to $30
Farm to School Farmer Fair at Farmers Market Kid's Day
When: 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 19
Where: Iowa City Farmers Market, 405 E. Washington St., Iowa City
Share the Harvest dinner
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20
Where: Sheraton Hotel, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City
Cost: $50
The Field to Family Festival and several area Culinary Rides will offer a chance to taste what local growers have to offer and meet the farmers behind the food. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Riders stop at Muddy Miss and Dirty Face Creek Farms outside of Hills for a dish by Chef Daniel Knowls of Devotay during the annual Culinary Ride in the countryside surrounding Iowa City on Sunday September 22, 2013. (Justin Torner/Freelance for Hoopla)
Denise Barnhouse of North Liberty pets a goat at Muddy Miss and Dirty Face Creek Farms outside of Hills on Sept. 22, 2013, during the annual Culinary Ride in the countryside surrounding Iowa City. (Justin Torner/Freelance)
Participants begin their trek down Sand Rd SE during the annual Culinary Ride in the countryside surrounding Iowa City on Sunday September 22, 2013. (Justin Torner/Freelance for Hoopla)
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