Labor Day in Saranac Lake is festival time when the annual Farm 2 Fork and Hobo Fest go back to back to bring farm to table fresh food and live music to Riverside Park. Originally the brainchild of Adirondack Green Circle founder Gail Brill, the Farm 2 Fork Festival was taken over last year by a small group of volunteers. Their goal keeps with Brill’s mission, to provide a farm to table meal and recipes to demonstrate the versatility of local Adirondack produce.

According to Danielle Delaini, one of the festival organizers, the goal is to continue to see the Farm 2 Fork tradition thrive. She acknowledges the number of volunteers to keep the event running.

“Farm 2 Fork and Hobo Fest are a great bookend to the season,” says Delaini. “People come from all over for these specific events. It’s now tradition and we are making sure that tradition continues.”

This year the volunteer group of organizers have teamed with ADKAction through its popular Adirondack Pollinator Project. The back of each recipe card has been meticulously researched to include information about how that food was pollinated.

Delaini added, “With each different dish being served will come the traditional recipe cards we’ve always offered. We buy available produce directly from the farmers so when people love that recipe they get to walk to their booth at Saturday’s Farmers Market.”

ADKAction will be on hand to explain the critical role native pollinators, as well as managed honey bees have on biodiversity, agricultural economy, and food security. Look for ADKAction’s booth for more information on conserving pollinator habitat and creating pollinator gardens.

This year’s menu, served buffet style, has a honey-based theme. Tickets are $15 for omnivores and $12 for vegetarians. The weekly Saturday Saranac Lake Farmers’ Market will take place in conjunction with the September 1 Farm 2 Fork Festival. All proceeds from Farm 2 Fork will directly benefit ADKAction’s Adirondack Pollinator Project.