The Annual Meeting is 3 Weeks Away!

CT NOFA's 2011 Annual Meeting

Saturday, October 29, 2011

12:00 - 4:00 pm

Common Ground High School

358 Springside Avenue, New Haven

All are welcome to our Annual Meeting (and Celebration)! The day’s activities are free of charge and include farm tours, a pot luck lunch, Rep. Richard Roy’s talk about labeling genetically engineered food and honoring Sal Gilbertie with the “Member of the Year” award.

Visit our table at the CitySeed Wooster Square Market on Saturday morning. Come to the CT NOFA table at 10:30 am for a tour of the market led by Bill Duesing, Executive Director of CT NOFA, providing background information about the vendors at the market featuring our member farms.

Learn about Common Ground’s farm operations and meet their chickens, turkeys and goats on farm tours beginning at noon. At 1:00 pm, bring along a dish to share (organic or local ingredients are encouraged, but not required) and your own cups, plates and utensils (to reduce paper and plastic waste) and guests are asked to bring their own cups, plates and utensils to reduce paper and plastic waste.

Representative Roy

After lunch and a brief business meeting, our special guest speaker, Representative Richard Roy from the 119th District in Milford, Connecticut and acting House chair of the Connecticut Legislature’s Environment Committee will speak about his legislative efforts to label genetically modified (GMO) foods in Connecticut. CT NOFA supports his efforts and has partnered with the “Just Label It” campaign for federal GMO labeling and has joined a lawsuit against GMO seed developer Monsanto Corporation.

Sal Gilbertie with some of his famed herbs and veggies

Finally, CT NOFA will award long-time member Sal Gilbertie with the 2011 Member of the Year Award. Sal is the largest herb grower in the United States and owner of Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens in Westport and Gilbertie’s Wholesale farm in Easton, CT, both of which were converted to certified organic a few years ago. He also conducts workshops, supports community garden projects in Bridgeport and has authored five books, the most recent of which is Small Plot, High-Yield Gardening which will be available for purchase at the meeting.

Please join us in honoring Sal and all of our members, and in celebrating yet another year of CT NOFA’s education, advocacy for and support of local foods and organic farms. For more information about the Annual Meeting or CT NOFA, please visit our website at www.ctnofa.org or call our office at (203) 888 5146. For more information about our partners please visit Common Ground High School’s website, www.nhep.com and CitySeed at www.cityseed.org.  

Executive Director Bill Duesing and President, James Roby with 2010's Member of the Year, our office manager, and very devoted member, Deb Legge