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Local food and fun on Thursdays at the Intervale

Burlington, Vermont - August 26, 2010

Thursdays at the Intervale are all about connecting local people with local food. Mix in a little dancing and you've got a good ol' fashioned Green Mountain celebration of summer.

"We all love Vermont especially in the summer. So it's a great place for us all to hang and get down on the dance floor," said Kat Clear of Colchester.

"We got people who don't know how to dance, people who love to dance, a lot of music and all on full bellies," said Glenn McRae, Intervale Center, executive director.

The Intervale Center manages 350 acres in the center of Burlington. Fourteen independent farm businesses also operate there.

"Our mission is really about strengthening community food systems," said McRae.

Every Thursday -- for 8 weeks throughout the summer -- the center featured a different sampling of local fare. And these folks certainly appreciate the city's commitment to a localvore culture.

"What we're trying to do is rebuild who we are through what we eat -- from a health standpoint, from an environmental standpoint and for local economic development," said McRae.

"It's progressive knowing where you're food comes from now," said Alexander Furdon, The Skinny Pancake, "But that's how it used to be. Cultures were so small. They would hunt and gather from what was around them."

This barn dance was less about hunting and gathering and more about indulging in the goodies around them. Each person savoring that last bit of summer.

"Tonight, oh, it's the last night. It's sad. Summer is coming to a close but it's a good last night here," said Clear.

This was the last of the summer tastings. But the Intervale Center says it will host one more Harvest Fest in mid fall.

Jennifer Reading -- WCAX News