AVONDALE, PA – Mixing the nexus of our government with the earthy appeal of mushrooms, the American Mushroom Institute recently put the category in the spotlight at the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) final Farmer’s Market of the season.
Attendees of the Farmer’s Market and the USDA’s 7th Annual Harvest Festival, got a specific and fruitful view of mushrooms at the VegUcation tent.
According to a press release, the American Mushroom Institute and the Mushroom Council displayed numerous varieties of mushrooms and gave the public access to recipes, nutrition information, tips, and mushroom tastings.
To-Jo Mushrooms entertained the crowd with the styling of Louise D’Amico and Peter Wilder. The duo espoused fun mushroom facts, and gave advice on how to pick and store fresh mushrooms.
In addition to the numerous guests, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a pit stop to the tent to help Dave Santucci of Country Fresh Mushrooms prepare Mushroom Sauté a la Vince with mushrooms, butter, and parsley.
Held this past Friday in Washington, DC, the festival focused on the vibrant colors of the fall season, while also providing area shoppers with access to a variety of locally and regionally sourced produced. The Harvest Festival is hosted by the People’s Garden Initiative and the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Visitor’s pallettes were also treated to samples of the mushroom paella created by Chef José Andrés, and the Jaleo restaurant team. The paella contained over 40 pounds of mushrooms donated by Phillips Mushroom Farms and R.L. Mushroom Co., and was housed in a stunning seven-foot pan.
The AMS manages the USDA Farmer’s Market, and also supports farmer’s markets throughout communities across the nation. This support is given through grants, research, and technical assistance.
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