GATES FOUNDATION HOSTS ITS FIRST HARVEST FEST HOOTENANNY
The Hootenanny’s invited Farm to Fork vendors and the Bon Appétit team
THE BON APPÉTIT TEAM at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle regularly hosts farmers’ markets, but their first-ever Harvest Fest Hootenanny took the local love to a new level. Eight farms and vendors set up their stands in the campus courtyard. The event kicked off with an outdoor barbecue, and Bon Appétit offered dishes that featured products from the invited vendors. Representatives from Osprey Hills Farm, who provide humanely raised poultry to the café, and Pike Place Market’s Uli’s Famous Sausage, grilled their samples for the guests. Victrola Coffee Roasters demonstrated a new counter-top cold brew, while Iggy’s Kombucha showed off their fresh tap system. Others set up stunning table displays showing off their fresh produce, amazing floral bouquets, and delicious cheeses.
Guests enjoyed sampling the wares, eating lunch made from the produce, and purchasing items from the vendors directly. In addition, Regional Marketing Director Tonya Flashey set up an engagement table with appetizer samples, a marketing slide show featuring current café promotions, and a drawing. All attendees received one ticket for the drawing, and vendors handed out additional ones to those who made purchases. Prizes included gift cards and gift baskets of the vendors’ items. Winners were announced on the café’s Yammer page. The Harvest Fest Hootenanny was well received by all, and the Gates team is already planning new farmers’ market events for the spring as well as their second Hootenanny in the fall! Submitted by Jason Posey, Operations Manager
61 | BRAVO