Freshfarm Markets held its 2012 Farmland Feast at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington on Nov. 12, and the event was a huge success, for both gastronomes and philanthropists alike. Through both silent and live auctions, in addition to ticket prices, potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised for charity, while guests enjoyed a four-course, locally sourced meal prepared by some of the area’s finest chefs.
Here’s a rundown by the numbers of the 2012 Farmland Feast, as well as the impact of its host organization, Freshfarm Markets, in part based on attending the event on Monday evening.
* 9 million dollars in farmer sales at Freshfarm Markets for the year.
* 1.3 million dollars earned by the nine previous Farmland Feast fundraisers.
* 360,000 annual shoppers at Freshfarm Markets.
* 175,000 pounds of cheese that Maryland-based FireFly Farms expects to produce in 2012. FireFly has worked closely with Freshfarm for years, and co-owner Mike Koch was the event’s guest speaker for the evening.
* 30,000 pounds of unsold food donated to nonprofit organizations feeding the hungry and homeless last year by Freshfarm Markets’ gleaning program.
* 400 diners paying $250 each for entry to the auction and dinner.
* 150 farmers and producers who sell their products at Freshfarm Markets.
* 85 items, at least, donated for the event’s silent auction, including restaurant gift certificates, collections of local produce and food, event tickets, local beers, whiskeys and wines, and more.
* 19 guest chefs and sommeliers for the evening, from many of the region’s most highly rated and sought after restaurants.
* 15 years since Freshfarm Markets was founded.
* 14 big-ticket items live-auctioned during dinner including various extravagant vacations, getaways and unique dining experiences.
* 11 D.C. area farmers markets run by Freshfarm Markets: Annapolis, Ballston and Crystal City in Virginia; Bethesda, St. Michaels and Silver Spring in Maryland; and Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, H Street, Penn Quarter and by the White House in the District.
* 10 years that the Farmland Feast has been held in Washington.
* 4 courses served, in addition to six cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres, all using the finest of local ingredients and paired with local wines.
Diners were treated to a luscious Cappellacci pasta of roasted Veal Animella in a leek and black truffle cream of Virginia Grayson cheese sauce; pan roasted Chesapeake Rockfish served with Carolina gold rice grits, Olde Salt oysters, ham, melted leeks and chives; perfectly cooked roasted loin of Virginia Lamb with braised shoulder; and a spiced sweet potato cake with salted caramel cream, candied pecans and cane syrup.
This article was first published on Yahoo News on November 13, 2012.