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Fresh is Back and Taking the Twin Cities by Storm

The movie Fresh is one of our favorites. Compelling, entertaining, warm, funny, and unabashedly hopeful, the documentary aims to forward the cause of good, sustainable food by making it accessible. As director Ana Sophia Joanes put it in our interview last summer:

"It was intentional to make a movie that anyone can watch - I don’t see any point in being righteous or controversial. We need to bring people into the discussion where they are ... We need to think in increments and we need a lot of different things happening if we’re going to have change. We can’t wait until everybody’s perfect to change."

If you missed it the first time around - or need another Fresh fix - this coming week offers 16 million ways to connect with the movie, the people behind it, the leaders in our local food movement, and many of the great organizations behind the message here in the Twin Cities. Here's a complete listing, directly from the folks at Fresh (in dividual events are listed on our events calendar too):

Spend your day with Joel Salatin!
Sunday
, April 18th

Intimate Brunch Fundraiser with Joel Salatin & Ana Joanes
Want some true face-time with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, Ana Joanes (Director of FRESH) and the heavy-hitters of sustainable agriculture in the Twin Cities? Come enjoy a delicious, locally-sourced, family-style brunch & engaging conversation with Joel at Birchwood Cafe from 12 - 2 PM. There are a limited number of tickets to this event - get yours now!

The Cowness of the Cow @ The Bell Museum
Joel Salatin, the Virginia-based "beyond organic" farmer, featured prominently in FRESH, will give two lectures at the Bell Museum. A VIP reception will be held after the first lecture in the Hungry Planet Gallery.
3:00 - 4:30 PM: "Can you feed the world? Answering elitism, production and choice"
4:30 - 5:30 PM:
VIP Reception featuring food by Birchwood Cafe (Limited to 50 people)
6:00 - 7:30 PM: "The sheer ecstasy of being a lunatic farmer"

Farm to Table Meals
Sunday, April 16th - Sunday, April 25th

April 15th - April 22nd: Barbette
One of the most loved - if not the most loved - French restaurants in Minneapolis, Barbette is casual, yet deliciously sophisticated. A very special FRESH menu will be available all week long.  Call 612-827-5710 for reservations.

April 16th: Lucia's Restaurant
Join an intimate, round table discussion on local foods with guests from the local farming community and IATP over a delicious breakfast at Lucia's! 8:00 - 9:00 AM, call 612-825-1572 for reservations.

April 25th: Earth Day Dinner at Birchwood Cafe
Chef Marshall and crew at Birchwood Cafe are creating a menu that spans the globe, celebrating local and sustainably sourced food prepared with their favorite global influences. Jim Harkness, President of Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy will be the guest speaker, providing a global perspective on Local Food. Call 612-722-4474 for reservations

See ALL Farm to Table Events on the FRESH website!

FRESH Workshops & Events
Saturday, April 17th - Saturday, April 24th

April 17: What's Brewing with Kombucha
Learn all about the probiotic beverage made for centuries to promote good health. Bryan Bertsch, owner and brewer of Deane's Organic Kombucha, will lead a workshop covering the finer points of making and enjoying this delicious drink. Participants will be given their very own kombucha starter so they can start their own batch at home.

April 17: LOCUS Architecture presents "2x2"
An intimate evening of good real food (& drink) & farms that grow it, scintillating conversation and boisterous laughter. Tracy Singleton (owner, Birchwood Cafe) & Greg Reynolds (owner, Riverbend Farm) will present and opine on GMO's and CSA's; steel cut oatmeal & artisan cheese; predator bugs & kids who can recognize an eggplant. Moderated by Mark Wheat of 89.3 the Current!

April 21 April Showers and Green Water Management
Are you looking for a greener approach to water your yard and garden? Ed Rudberg, of Verde Strategies, will introduce topics in alternative storm water management and teach participants how to make a rain barrel. Everyone will return home with a rain barrel that they constructed in class. What a perfect way to welcome Spring!

April 24th Hungry Planet: What the World Eats
Join best-selling photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D'Aluisio in a visual tasting tour of the world's dinner plates with photos from their books Hungry Planet, and Material World. Learn what inspires their travels and why food is such an important part of their work. Get a sneak peek of their new book coming out this fall!

FRESH at the Riverview
Tuesday, April 20th - Thursday, April 22nd

If you're not able to make any of the above events to get your voucher to see FRESH for free at the Riverview, you can still come see the film with your friends! Tickets are available for purchase through the FRESH website or in person at the Birchwood Cafe.

April 20th: Screening followed by reception featuring snacks from Uppercrust & Peace Coffee. Ana Joanes will be in attendance! Free reusable tote bag from Whole Foods to the first 100 people in the door.

April 21st: Screening followed by a panel featuring Ana Joanes of FRESH, Megan O'Hara of Homegrown Minneapolis and Loretta Jaus of Organic Valley

April 22nd:
Screening followed by a panel featuring Ana Joanes of FRESH, Jim Harkness of Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy , Linda Halley of Garden of Eagan and Wedge Co-op, Susane Moua of City Backyard Farming and Danny Schwartzman of Common Roots.