Havana restaurant and College of the Atlantic (COA) are partnering to host a Farm Dinner at the college’s Beech Hill Farm Saturday, July 11, 2015. The dinner is a benefit for Share the Harvest, a COA student-led program to help provide fresh, organic produce to clients of Mount Desert Island’s food pantries.

“COA believes that local organic produce should be available to everyone in the community regardless of cost,” says student organizer Emily Hollyday ’15. In recent seasons, Share the Harvest has made it possible for 55 families to receive farm stand gift certificates through the Bar Harbor and Common Good food pantries. Funding primarily comes from donations from the MDI community. This year, Share the Harvest has received more applications than ever. Hollyday says, “We hope to expand the program through this benefit dinner.”

The renowned Bar Harbor restaurant, Havana, is preparing a five-course meal including wine and cocktails. “Havana is proud to be an advocate for social justice around food issues, the sustainability of farming, local food movement, and nutrition for our children,” says owner and COA alumnus, Michael Boland ’94. “We are looking forward to a magical evening with great food and friends, all to benefit an important cause on Mount Desert Island.”
Beech Hill Farm from above.

The dinner will be held rain or shine 5:00 pm at College of the Atlantic’s beautiful Beech Hill Farm, located in Mount Desert at 171 Beech Hill Rd. Tours of the farm will be given by farm manager Tess Faller ’09 and assistant manager Anna Davis during the cocktail hour. “Thanks to the Share the Harvest program, more members of our local community have access to fresh, organic produce, grown right here on Mount Desert Island,” says Tess.

“Share the Harvest is making a positive impact and, here at Beech Hill Farm, we’re all proud to be a part of it. I’d love to see the program grow!”

Beech Hill Farm is a working, sustainable organic farm that provides fresh produce for the COA campus and local customers through wholesale accounts and the retail farm stand. COA students, staff, faculty, and farm managers work collaboratively to meet the farm’s threefold goal of local and sustainable food production, education, and good land stewardship.

The event begins at 5:00 pm with cocktails and a tour of the farm. The price per ticket is $125. Space is limited. To reserve go to www.coa.edu/havanafarmdinner, or call Jen Hughes at 207-801-5622 or email jhughes@coa.edu.

If you can’t come to the dinner but would like to make a donation to Share the Harvest, go to www.coa.edu/donatenow.