by Ashley Witzenberger
MONTPELIER — It’s that time of year again! The Hunger Mountain Co-op will host the 23rd annual Food & Wellness Fair this Saturday, Nov. 5. More than 60 vendors will gather in Montpelier City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Food & Wellness Fair is a free community event that showcases local foods as well as an array of health and wellness resources available in our community. Indulge in copious amounts of food, drink and wellness product and services. You will be amazed at all of the local talent and offerings in one place.
Start your morning with a tasting of hometown favorite, Capitol Grounds sampling Hermit Thrush, Ethiopian Sidamo, Full City Nicaragua and Peru Decaf coffees. If you are getting ready for the holidays, stop by the Red Hen Bread booth and taste their Polenta, Miche and whole wheat breads. The Flack Family Farm from Enosburg Falls will be at the fair with servings of kimchi and sauerkraut.
While you are sampling some of the best products from local culinary artists, you can also learn more about the rapidly growing field of holistic wellness with local practitioners and healers. There will be opportunities to learn more about acupuncture, herbalism, the use of essential oils and more. Highlights include Urban Moonshine from Burlington, who will be on hand with bitters, herbal first aid and tonics, and OPEN Community Acupuncture from Waterbury will facilitate mini acupuncture sessions.
This isn’t just another food fair, it truly is a family-friendly event. Stop by the special kids area where this year the little ones can use their creativity to make sculptures with soap and paint their own pumpkins. Don’t miss the photo booth where you can take fun photos with your friends and family showing your Co-op pride. While you are at the photo booth, you can also enter to win a $100 gift card to the Co-op.
As always, the Co-op gives back to the community and works to combat hunger locally, and you can help. The first 500 attendees to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to the UMC Community Lunch Program will receive a $3 off coupon to the co-op. “Our co-op is committed to building a dynamic community of healthy individuals and sustainable local food systems. The Food & Wellness Fair is a perfect example of our mission in action. This Saturday will be our 23rd year of bringing the community together in downtown Montpelier to celebrate and explore healthy food, products and services” says Stephani Kononan, Community Relations Manager.
If you would like to volunteer or learn more about the Fair, visit http://hungermountain.coop.
The writer is executive director of Montpelier Alive
