Farm to Fork‘s annual picnic pairs many of the area’s best farmers and chefs for unique, collaborative bite-size dishes. This year, it’s set for June 3 on the grounds of Fearrington Village in Pittsboro. The celebration of local food, considered by Bon Appetit to be “the country’s best all-you-can-eat feast,” brings together dozens of chefs, artisans, farmers, and beverage-makers for initiatives that provide support to emerging local farmers.

According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, North Carolina lost almost 2,600 farms from 2007 to 2012. At a time when North Carolina’s agriculture industry continues to decline, Farm to Fork provides a platform for new farmers to gain their footing in the local food arena. The funds generated at the Farm to Fork Picnic will go toward training programs through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, which offers workshops and other support for new farmers across the region.

The picnic also provides an opportunity for chefs and farmers to mingle, explore, and experiment with new ingredients. Chefs from some of your favorite local restaurants are participating (see the full list of pairings below). Some of the area’s top beverage-makers (among them Mystery Brewing Company, Trophy Brewing Company, and Haw River Wine Man) will also participate.

Farm to Fork also has two more events featuring local eats this year: a September pop-up dinner with acclaimed catering chef Jacob Boehm of Snap Pea Underground and Catering, and a talk with prolific food writer John T. Edge this December, which will also feature food from six area chefs.

This year’s picnic, which includes activities for children, live music, and other surprises, costs $100. A $500 Farm to Fork Sustainer pass includes access to all three events and directly supports Farm to Fork’s beginning farmer programs.

FARM TO FORK PARTICIPANTS:

Pairings:
ACME with CHAPEL HILL CREAMERY
ALLEY TWENTY SIX with LILLY DEN FARM
AMERICAN MELTDOWN with ELODIE FARMS
ANGELINA’S KITCHEN with IN GOOD HEART FARM
BULL CITY BURGER AND BREWERY with EASTERN CAROLINA ORGANICS
COUNTING HOUSE with PRODIGAL FARM
CROSSROADS CHAPEL HILL AT THE CAROLINA INN with DANCING PINES FARM
DASHI with FOUR LEAF FARM
EAST DURHAM BAKE SHOP with MAPLE SPRING GARDENS
ELAINE’S ON FRANKLIN with PERRY-WINKLE FARM
GLASSHALFULL with LYON FARMS
HARVEST 18 with MAE FARM
HERONS with ONE OAK FARM
IRREGARDLESS CAFE with WELL FED COMMUNITY GARDEN
JACK TAR AND THE COLONEL’S DAUGHTER with NOURISHING ACRES
KITCHEN with FUNNY GIRL FARM
LA FARM BAKERY with PARKER FARM AND VINEYARD
LOCALS SEAFOOD MARKET AND OYSTER BAR with LOCALS SEAFOOD
MANDOLIN with RAN-LEW DAIRY
MYSTERY BREWING PUBLIC HOUSE with WALKING FISH COOPERATIVE
OAKLEAF with CASTLEMAINE FARM
PAZZO with SOUTHWIND PRODUCE
PICNIC with GREEN BUTTON FARM
PIZZERIA MERCATO with PEREGRINE FARM
POMPIERI PIZZA with SPLIT ACRE FARM
REVERENCE FARMS CAFE with REVERENCE FARMS
THE BOOT with FIRSTHAND FOODS
THE DURHAM with EAST BRANCH GINGER
THE FEARRINGTON HOUSE with FEARRINGTON FARMS
THE LAKEWOOD with FICKLE CREEK FARM
THE ROOT CELLAR with GRANITE SPRINGS FARM

Artisans:
Big Spoon Roasters, Boro Beverage, Boulted Bread, Boxcarr Handmade Cheese, Fiddlehead Farm, Honey Girl Meadery, Lady Edison Ham, Left Bank Butchery with Cane Creek Farm, Neomega 3 Avocado Oil, Strong Arm Bakery, Two Chicks Farm, Videri Chocolate Factory

Beverages:
Bean Traders, Bond Brothers Brewery, Bull City Burger and Brewery, Carrboro Coffee Roasters, Durham Distillery, Fair Game Beverage Co., Fullsteam Brewery, Haw River Wine Man, James Creek Ciderhouse, Mystery Brewing Co., Piedmont Wine Imports, Ponysaurus Brewing, Steel String Craft Brewery, TOPO Distillery, Trophy Brewing Co., Wine Authorities