The folks in the California state capital just launched a new, six-episode Visit Sacramento Podcast to share insight on the city’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival. The popular event, held Sept. 19–29, offers up great food, wine, chef demos, and live music, all celebrating the city known as the nation’s Farm-to-Fork Capital.
The first episode features Director of Events Annie Mosley, who details this year's Farm-to-Fork Festival events: local-wine tasting on the capitol steps at Legends of Wine (Sept. 19) the two-day Street Festival (Sept. 27–28), and the annual Tower Bridge Dinner (Sept. 29), a decadent, locally sourced sit-down feast served on the city’s Tower Bridge.
The second episode features a chat with farm-to-fork pioneer Josh Nelson, of Selland Family Restaurants, who sheds insight on why Sacramento was named America's Farm-to-Fork Capital. “We are uniquely positioned, literally,” Nelson says, between the area’s richly fertile soil, its Mediterranean climate, and its fairly short distance from the ocean, mountains, valleys, and rivers. “You can’t just replicate that.” The farms in the area have enriched every level of dining he says: “The quality of the product hitting the plate, even the salad at the mom and pop place, it’s just a little better.” He also gives a shout-out to Sacramento chef Kelly McCown, who helms The Kitchen, which just earned Sacramento’s first Michelin star this year.
In upcoming episodes, the podcast will explore food literacy, the city’s thriving craft beer scene, and Michael Passmore of Passmore Ranch, who explains how Sacramento came to produce 80 percent of the U.S. caviar supply.
Getting hungry? Come to the Farm-to-Fork Festival yourself (the two-day street festival is free). Also, check out tips on tasting Sacramento’s farm-to-fork scene year-round, the California Now Podcast episode on Sacramento dining, and more fun (and often tasty) events happening in September in California.