Fresh Local Truck at Prescott Park!

Last spring, organizers at Prescott Park approached us asking for ideas on how they could incorporate more healthy local food options into their concessions. But they had a pretty big barrier - little or no food preparation capacity in their concession shack. Since local food pretty much comes natural, unprocessed, no packaging  (one of the reasons we all are such fans!), it was going to be pretty challenging and involve a lot of logistics, food transportation, and middle-men to cook that food to be ready-to-eat  for event attendees.

And now I read that they seem to have hit onto a solution for this year, one that supports a brand-spanking new business to boot! What a great partnership! (The below is a Prescott Park Arts Festival press release):

Prescott Park Arts Festival Joins Slow Food Movement
Festival food concessions to offer Fresh Local  menu

PORTSMOUTH, NH - Prescott Park Arts Festival has announced that it is joining the Slow Food movement with the addition of healthy, local, and organic food items as part of their food concessions this summer. Held in Prescott Park, the festival kicks off its’ 34th season with the opening night of Beauty and the Beast on Friday, June 27.

 In partnership with Fresh Local, the festival has expanded the summer menu to include a variety of items such as falafel sandwiches, meat kabobs & lobster rolls that are made with local, fresh, organic or free-range ingredients. The menu will stay interesting by offering new items when seasonally available.

Fresh Local is operated by Josh Lanahan, a locally-grown professional chef, and his partner, Michelle Lozuaway. Josh and Michelle raise their own chickens, eggs, and veggies on their Newington Farm, and are excited to be able to support other local farmers and businesses in the area.

“My goal as a chef is always the same: serve food people really love to eat. Locally grown ingredients are simply better - better tasting, and better for you. We are honored to have this opportunity with Prescott Park. It’s the perfect venue for our menu and our philosophy,” says Josh.

“Having not only healthy food choices, but also really tasty ones, is something that is important to both us and our audiences,” says Prescott Park Arts Festival executive director Ben Anderson, “I think the response is going to be incredible.”

In response to public demand, the Prescott Park Arts Festival concessions will also be open during lunch on event days, Wednesday - Sunday, in addition to event evenings. “I’m constantly being asked if we’d consider offering food again in the park during lunch hours for the many people who come to enjoy the park, so we’re working to see that this happens once again.”

Anderson says that this partnership with Fresh Local also opens a lot of other potentials for the festival. “We’ve already started talking about reviving our Sunday brunch Jazz again and offering some of Fresh Local’s amazing organic egg dishes.”

The Prescott Park Arts Festival is New England’s largest and oldest outdoor arts venue.  Since 1996, the Arts Festival has consistently been named by Yankee magazine as a “must see” tourist attraction. In its 34-year history the Arts Festival has never charged a fixed admission.  The festival offers a full array of free events from Wednesday to Sunday each week including plays, music concerts and festivals. www.prescottpark.org

This entry was posted on June 21, 2008 at 6:30 am and is filed under sources of local food. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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