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Arts & Entertainment

The New Canaan Library's Screening of 'The Farmer's Voice'

      FOOD, FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT AT NEW CANAAN LIBRARY'S

FARMERS MARKET HARVEST EVENT

-- Friends of the Library and First County Bank Celebrate Local Farmers --

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NEW CANAAN, Conn., April 27, 2010 --  Friends of the Library and First County Bank are sponsoring an event on Thursday, May 13, at 6 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room of the New Canaan Library to kick-off the opening of Connecticut farmers markets.  The event will include a showcasing of local farmers' products, a screening and a discussion of the documentary film, "The Farmer's Voice," and a presentation on the importance of supporting local farmers.  The event is free and open to the public.

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          "The evening is all about educating the public about the importance of buying locally grown produce," said New Canaan Library Director Alice Knapp.  "Agriculture is a $2 billion industry in Connecticut that accounts for 50,000 jobs and thousands of acres of open space that enhance our quality of life."  This event is part of the library's ongoing effort to reach out to the local community with educational and cultural programs.

          People worldwide are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food.  It is fresher and that means it is tastier and more nutritious.  It is also good for the local economy -- buying directly from family farmers helps them stay in business.  Today in Connecticut there are more than 120 markets in 97 towns.

          There are almost two million farms in the United States.  About 80 percent of those are small farms and a large percentage are family owned.  More and more of these farmers are now selling their products directly to the public. They do this via Community Supported Agriculture programs, farmers markets, food co-ops, u-picks, farm stands, and other direct marketing channels. 

          "Large scale chemical agriculture is poisoning our soils and our water, and weakening our communities.  By buying direct from a family farm you can help put a stop to this unfortunate trend.  By buying produce from your local farmer, you are working to maintain a healthy environment, a vibrant community, and a strong and sustainable local economy for you and your kids to thrive in," said Beverly Corvino, the writer and director of "The Farmer's Voice."

 With no prior filmmaking experience, Corvino, a former schoolteacher, set out with her son Sean as cameraman, a list of questions and a desire to discover why farms in Connecticut were disappearing.  When Corvino moved to Shelton 40 years ago she would buy milk from the local dairy and vegetables from a local produce stand.  Many of these places no longer exist and have been replaced by malls and big box stores.            

          "We as a nation are dangerously close to losing farming as a way of life," explained Corvino.  She hopes her film will enlighten people of the importance of land preservation and the family farmer.  She hopes to inspire ways to maintain local farms and celebrate farmers who grow healthy, nutritious food.  

 New Canaan.

            "First County Bank is proud to sponsor this event.  As a community bank, we know the importance of supporting local businesses, be they farmers, car dealerships or bakeries," said Richard E. Taber, chairman of the board and chief executive officer for First County Bank.  "My family has been buying local produce for many years.  And this event, designed as a learning experience for all ages, will reinforce the importance of local farming and its impact on communities across lower Fairfield County."

          Among the milestones of Connecticut agriculture during the past 375 years are:

  • The first farmers market was established in Hartford in 1643;
  • The oldest fair in Connecticut is the Brooklyn Fair, established in 1809;
  • The first commercial peach orchard in the country was the J.H. Hale Orchard, established in Glastonbury in 1875.

          All New Canaan Library programs are free and open to the public.  To RSVP, please call 203-594-5040 or email achapin@newcanaanlibrary.org.  The library is located at 151 Main St. in New Canaan. 

          First County Bank, headquartered in Stamford, Conn., is an independent mutual community bank with 15 branches in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and Westport offering deposit products, mortgages, trust and investment services, business banking services and online banking.  First County Bank has assets in excess of $1.2 billion.  For additional information, please visit www.firstcountybank.com    Other presenters include, Alexis Gazy of

 the Farmers Market of New Canaan, Earle Finch of Stone's Throw Organic Farm in Bethel and Randy Brown of Uncle Buck's Secret Gardens in

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