Earlier this month, for the first time in a virtual format, we welcomed thirteen influential food bloggers from the region for a virtual farm-to-table tour. The bloggers’ combined reach on Instagram alone surpasses 355K followers.
The event was a two-day intimate, immersive experience giving attendees an insight into where their food comes from and was hosted by fellow blogger, Tara Bench from Tara Teaspoon. We also partnered with Rochester, NY based businesses to give the guests a true taste of the Finger Lakes from the comfort of their homes.
Dairy farm-focused sessions included a happy hour with Jen and Chris Noble from Noblehurst Farms in Linwood, NY, and a Virtual Farm Tour at Mulligan’s Farm in Avon, NY with Farmer Emilie. Guests learned about the sustainable practices their local farmers employ, how the dairy cows are cared for, and how the milk is used in the dairy products they enjoy each day.
Culinary sessions included a latte demo from John Cannon from Glen Edith Coffee, a cook along with Chef Anton Guzman from Native Eatery and Bar, and a mixology class with bartender Paul Milne.
Abbey Copenhaver, our resident farmer, RD, and athlete also put the bloggers’ skills to the test with her dairy trivia.
To make sure that we didn’t lose the personal touches of an in-person event, the guests received hand-delivered packages with everything they would need throughout the tour.
In a post-event survey, 100% of the attendees noted that the tour allowed them to better understand cow care and that they believe dairy farmers care for their animals. Survey findings also showed that the tour improved their perception of the dairy industry and that they all learned more ways to incorporate dairy in their recipes.
We are excited to partner with the attendees in the coming months on recipes, videos, and other projects that will showcase their talents in dairy-forward recipes.
