Waterville Farmers’ Market Featured During World Food Day

World Food Day is day of action against hunger, acknowledging the creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This fall, Colby celebrated World Food Day with two days full of fun events. With local food as the theme, students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to take advantage and enjoy Waterville’s Farmers’ Market.

The week leading up to World Food Day, the Office of Sustainability sold $10 Waterville Farmers’ Market gift certificates for only $5, giving people twice as much produce for their money as a way to encourage the Colby community to go to the farmer’s market and support the local farming community.

On World Food Day, Oct. 16, the Colby Outing Club, EnviroCo, and the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Coalition led a bike ride down to the farmers’ market from Colby’s campus along the Messalonskee Stream. Everyone participating in the ride received a cup of ice cream from the Stone Fox Farm Creamery stand.

To end the week of festivities the Office of Sustainability, the EcoReps, and Dining Services held a cooking competition with four student teams. Each team received $50 gift certificates to the farmers’ market to purchase ingredients. After using most of the day to cook and display their plates, the student teams presented their dishes to a panel of five judges including: environmental studies professors Divya Gupta, Denise Bruesewitz, and Thom Klepach, Foss dining hall manager Terry Landry, and Sustainability Coordinator Kevin Bright. Judged on taste, display, and creativity, students Teddy Simpson ‘17, George Voigt ‘17, and Jackson Hall ‘17 won the competition with an amazing butternut squash and goat cheese ravioli.

Based on the success of Colby’s inaugural World Food Day events, there will be an annual celebration. Keep an eye out for a plaque in Foss dining hall recognizing the winners.