Sacramento is downright abuzz these days about the farm-to-fork movement, but does the enthusiasm translate into more income for local farmers? Sacramento-area farmers think so. They believe that heightened attention to the value and importance of local food is good for them as well as for the community. Farm-to-fork movement benefits local farmers Local farmers have been “doing” farm-to-fork for years—at least 30 years, as measured by the opening of one of the earliest Sacramento farmers markets by Dan and Renae Best in 1980. Even though direct marketing from farmers to consumers has been around for a long time, the new interest from consumers, chefs and local organizations is a boost t

Chocolatier Ginger Elizabeth Hahn figured out her career path at a very young age. Since then, her singular focus, education and training in the culinary arts led her to open Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates five years ago in Midtown. Ginger, Julia and Yan can cook When Hahn was 5, Julia Child and Martin Yan’s TV cooking shows left her spellbound. Before long, Hahn was putting on cooking demos for her family and clipping recipes from Bon Appetit magazine. In pre-Food Network days, she watched the “Great Chefs” programs, but because the chefs never bothered to detail the ingredients, she experimented in the kitchen and figured out recipe measurements on her own. Hahn’s mother was also a great

On rich farmland along the American River and tucked next to Hagan Park is Soil Born Farms, the site of the fifth annual “Day on the Farm.” The May 19 event is billed as an opportunity to “Learn, Eat and Celebrate!” and will feature a fresh farm stand, cooking classes, farms tours, farm animals, plant sale, nature walks, live music, workshops, food, and arts and crafts. At the event, participants can experience Soil Born Farms, which produces certified organic produce for local farm stands, restaurants and grocery stores. Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture and Education Project was started in 2000 to connect urbanites with healthy, local food. Soil Born Farms also offers experiential farm,

An artisan coffee roaster and baker brought their old world values into a new world context when they created the Old Soul Co. boutique coffee roaster and bakery in midtown. Roaster Jason Griest was co-owner of the Naked Lounge when he met baker Tim Jordan, who was one of his early customers. The two realized that they both shared an old world appreciation for true craftsmanship and for quality products that spoke for themselves without the need for glitzy advertising methods. Old World Model Griest said that he and Jordan pictured American immigrants, from the 1700’s and 1800’s, arriving in New York on boats and bringing their strong work ethic and craft to the new world to make better

Emcee Dennis Mangers promised the “Sacramento Has Talent” show audience that they would leave saying, “That’s entertainment!” His prediction proved true, as a lineup of talented local dancers, bands, musicians, comedian, filmmaker, singers and a spoken-word artist delighted the crowd. The April 4 show at the Crest Theater was presented by Access Sacramento as a benefit for a neighborhood youth reporter program. Guest artist Lisa Daggs and her five-member band opened the show with a rocking performance of her hit single “Forgiveness is a Powerful Thing.” An energetic Daggs connected with the crowd as she moved about the stage and let her raspy, powerful voice soar. Daggs’ musical career