First Central Virginia Food Heritage Gathering To Be Held March 26 in Charlottesville

March 20, 2012 — The Virginia Food Heritage Project is sponsoring its first Central Virginia Gathering on March 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Albemarle County Building in Charlottesville, 401 McIntire Rd.

"Food Heritage: A Central Virginia Gathering," is a free community event to rediscover Central Virginia's food heritage. It will be held in the Lane Auditorium.

Food heritage is the history and culture of foods produced and processed in a particular region – old-fashioned varieties of fruits and vegetables, family recipes, heirloom seeds, former grain mills, cideries and more. Participants will have the opportunity to map out old farms, orchards and mills, share food stories through interviews, brainstorm ways to revive local food heritage and promote a more sustainable future, and enjoy a seed and plant swap and a sampling of heritage foods.

Attendees are asked to bring old family recipes, cookbooks, photos and heirloom seeds.

The Virginia Food Heritage Project is a collaboration of community organizations and individuals who seek to build understanding and documentation of our food heritage, and who aspire to use this knowledge to advance our local food, agriculture and economy. The project is housed within the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia.

For information, visit the Virginia Food Heritage website.