SDSPA Sponsors Chef Events to Promote Specialty Crops
The Burke Area Farmers Market hosted Chef Kimberly Brave Heart, Oglala Lakota culinary artist and caterer.
SDSPA provided funds for three S.D. Farmers Market Coalition members to host a ‘Chef Event’ at their farmers market in September. The markets received funds to bring a chef to their market to promote the use of local specialty crops.
The Burke Area Farmers Market hosted Chef Kimberly Brave Heart, Oglala Lakota culinary artist and caterer, at their market on Sept. 8, 2022. Chef Brave Heart is based out of Rapid City and specializes in modern indigenous cuisine.
The event featured samples of appetizer dishes that spotlight vegetables, including Cold Cucumber Gazpacho and Vegetable Ratatouille. The vegetable ingredients were sourced from area growers. They also offer a beef dish funded by the Cattlewomen.
The Black Hills Farmers Market hosted Gwendolyn Kitzan of Kitzan Family Farms. Kitzan prepared a delicious meal featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables available at the market. All ingredients were sourced from SDSPA members and Black Hills Farmers Market vendors. Kitzan gave a shout-out to everyone’s products that were used and producers who contributed to the meal were listed on the 2’ x 3’ event poster.
All ingredients were sourced from SDSPA members and Black Hills Farmers Market vendors.
Chef Gwen’s menu included a Ukrainian Veggie Bake with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, onion; Cucumber and Tomato Salad with spiced dressing, and Peach Dessert with honey and plum amaretto jam sauce.
Free samples were distributed to many smiling faces that came through the sampling line the morning of their farmers market on Sept. 17th. They heard lots of positive feedback, and customers were excited to get the recipes which are posted on the Black Hills Farmers Market’s website.
“The Chef Event was a huge success. Everyone loved it! Samples were generous and delicious!” said Ann Eads, Black Hills Farmers Market Wholesale Customer Relationship Specialist.
The Market at the Meridian hosted three chefs from Connecting Cultures, an organization formed to promote the diversity of the Yankton area on Sept. 17th. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the event focused on dishes with specialty crops prepared from different regions.
Market at the Meridian hosted Chef Sandra Mijangos, who served served Guatemalan salsa.
Chef Sandra Mijangos, who was previously involved in Las Ruinas Mexican Restaurant with her family, served Guatemalan salsa samples. Chef Guadalupe “Lupita” Alarcon and Chef Sara Salinas, from Guerrero, Mexico, both made tamales. Most Mexican tamales contain a savory filling of meat or vegetables. Options include pork with red sauce, chicken with green and/or red sauce and cheese with poblano peppers.
The chef events were sponsored by the S.D. Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) and supported in part through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Black Hills Farmers Market, Burke Area Farmers Market and Market at the Meridian are members of the S.D. Farmers Market Coalition, a group focused on strengthening farmers markets & supporting vendors through education, networking, initiatives, and marketing. This subchapter of the SDSPA meets online the 2nd Thursday of the month via Zoom. If interested in participating contact SDSPA.