Northern Nevada farm-to-plate event - Excellent!

From my mailbox to you:

Fallon hosts the perfect stay vacation for Northern Nevadans with the introduction of Tractors & Truffles, a small farm agriculture and arts event, Saturday, April 24.

The full-day event will include farm tours, wine tasting, gourmet dining and a live music performance.

Highlighting the event is a four-course dinner with wine pairing prepared by a team of award-winning chefs, including Steve Hernandez of the Slanted Porch, Mark Davis, Cordon Bleu, and Ryan Scott, Bravo's Top Chef Chicago. The gourmet dinner will be served at historic Oats Park, and it will include locally-grown beef, produce and wine from Northern Nevada farms.

The event begins with lunch and a tour of Lattin Farms, known regionally for its corn maze and on-farm bakery. The fifth-generation family farm celebrated 100 years of farming in 2009.

Wine tasting and a tour of Churchill Vineyards, Nevada's only estate winery, will follow lunch. Churchill Vineyards grows ten different varieties of fine European wine grapes and is considered a pioneer in Nevada's wine and viticulture industry. Father and son Charlie and Colby Frey established the winery on the fourth-generation farm in 2001.
Blues Music Award winner and country blues artist Rory Block, provides a nightcap to the event with a performance in Barkley Theater, considered the finest small performing arts house in Nevada.

Block has won five WC Handy Blues Music Awards, and according to the Blues Foundation, she is widely regarded as the top female interpreter and authority on traditional country blues worldwide.

"Tractors & Truffles showcases two of Fallon's greatest assets - its small farm agriculture industry and the vital and eclectic arts scene," said Rick Gray, executive director of the Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority and producer of the new event.

Tickets for the event are $100 and can be purchased by calling toll free 1-866-432-5566. More information is available at http://www.tractorsandtruffles.com/

Northern Nevada farmers market 2010 schedule

Farmers market season is just around the corner. Yippee! Go to Edible Reno Tahoe for a listing of markets in Nevada and closer California markets.

One of the joys of eating local food is the chance to know the farmers. The Dayton and Fallon markets are sourced primarily by Nevada farmers so a little extra drive time is worth the trip. You can still meet some Nevada farmer at the other markets. Just ask the market manager to point you in the right direction.

Thanks to the Edible Reno Tahoe crew for putting together a really comprehensive resource. Here's the info on the Nevada markets.

CARSON CITY, NEV.
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 12 through Sept.18 at the Saturday Morning Farmers’ Market in the Third and Curry streets parking lot. Details: Carsonfarmersmarket.com or contact Market Manager Linda Marrone at 882-6741, 720-7789, or marrone2@yahoo.com .

Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. June 9 through Aug. 25 at Carson Farmers’ Market, Pony Express Pavilion at Mills Park, Hwy. 50, west of North Saliman Road. Details: Crystal Bridge Enterprises at 746-5024; crystlbrdg@hotmail.com .

DAYTON, NEV.
Thursdays from 3 to 6:30 p.m. from June 17 through September at Community Roots Nursery, Hwy 50 and Second Avenue. You’ll find only local Nevada farmers this year. Details: Wendy, 250-7884; www.NevadaGrown.com .

EUREKA, NEV.
Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. July 29 through Sept. 30 at Gold Street. A market will not be held on Aug. 15. Details: Gary, 237-5326; www.NevadaGrown.com .

FALLON, NEV.
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 12 through Sept. 4 on Maine Street in downtown Fallon. Details: Rick Gray, Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority at 423-4556 or Wendy Nelsen from Candylicious in Fallon at 423-1100; www.NevadaGrown.com .

Tuesdays 4-8:30 p.m. June 16-Aug. 25. Closed July 7. Churchill County Fairgrounds, 325 Sheckler Road. Details: Don, 427-3428.

GARDNERVILLE, NEV.
Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 2 through Sept. 16 at Lampe Park, 328 Waterloo Park. Details: Jana, 782-9828 or Sharon Rusk, 588-4105; www.NevadaGrown.com .

INCLINE VILLAGE, NEV.
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting June 19 outside of the Village Market.

MINDEN, NEV.
Tuesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. from June 2 through September at Esmeralda Avenue in downtown Minden. Details: Roxanne, 782-2444; www.NevadaGrown.com .

RENO, NEV.
Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 5 through Oct. 2 at California Avenue Market, Reno Village Shopping Center at California Avenue and Booth Street.

Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June through September at West Street Market, downtown Reno on West Street between First and Second streets. Details: 334-2077.

Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8 through Oct. 5 at Shoppers Square, corner of Plumb Lane and South Virginia Street.

Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. June 16 through Aug. 25 at Somersett Towne Square, 7650 Town Square Way. Details: Linda Student, 787-4500, ext. 311; www.Somersett.com .

Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 through Oct. 8 at Tamarack Junction Casino, 13101 S. Virginia St.

SPARKS, NEV.
Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 1 through Sept. 14 at United Methodist Church, 1231 Pyramid Way. Details: Everett, 358-0925.
Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. June 10 through Aug. 19 at Sparks Hometown Farmers’ Market on Victorian Avenue. There will not be a market on Aug. 5 due to Hot August Nights. Details: Greg von Schottenstein or Andre Stigall, 353-2291; www.Sparksrec.com .

TONOPAH, NEV.
Mondays from 4 p.m. to dusk from July 6 through Oct. 5 at Hwy 95, Main Street at Pocket Park. Details: Mary, 482-3118.

WINNEMUCCA, NEV.
Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. from July through September next to the community garden. Details: Ed, 623-8413.

What's it like to "grocery shop" at a 4-H auction?

The Fallon 4-H kids will be auctioning off the animals they've raised soon, so it's a good time to buy beef, pork, or goat meat. Our family cowpools so I know about buying and storing in bulk, but our farmer takes care of everything for us; we just take delivery of the boxes and put the meat in the freezer. So I need to know: How does the animal get from auction yard to the freezer? How would a buyer know if the meat is pasture or grain fed, organic or conventionally raised? Who does the driving?

First thing, talk to the farmer, or in this case, the 4-H'er. They'll be able to tell you all about their animal and will be available all day Friday and Saturday up until auction time. When you find one raised according to your values, for example, grass versus grain fed, conventional or organic, bid on it. Next question...