We're Eating Locally at Our Gala

Farmers markets are enjoying a renaissance, and local food is a fad that a lot of us hope becomes a trend and then a custom.

At Westchester Land Trust, we've tried to do our part by working to protect local farms, and by supporting farmland preservation beyond Westchester County.

But with our 2008 Gala around the corner (Saturday evening, June 14), we thought it important to become the first local non-profit (to our knowledge) to put our meal money where our mouth is.

If you join us at this year's gala, the food you will be served will be both local and organic, including the wine and beer (but excluding the coffee and sugar, which don't grow in this latitude, yet).

Our organic food sponsor is Alerion, The Family Office of Flight. Our caterer, Bonni Manning, from Sherman, Connecticut, has been working overtime with McEnroe Organic Farms, in Millerton, New York, to find high quality suppliers from the region. Local and organic food is a bit more expensive, but we're able to do it because of the generosity of Alerion, Inc., which is underwriting the food and drink.

Speaking of which, we'll be serving wine grown and produced by Schneider Vineyards and Onabay Vineyards, both on Long Island's North Fork, and beer brewed by Captain Lawrence Brewery in Pleasantville.

Our gala is always fun, and the food is always good. This year we think it will be great.