Kids Smoothie Demonstration at the Ag Trades Show

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Kids Smoothie Demonstration at the Ag Trades Show

Augusta- The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is partnering with FoodCorps, Maine Ag in the Classroom, the Maine School Garden Network, and the Northeast Livestock Expo on a Kids Smoothie Demonstration at the 2019 Maine Agricultural Trades Show on Thursday, January 17th from 11 am until 12 noon. The theme of this year’s show is “Growing Maine Agriculture,” and these educational programs play a vital role in ensuring future growth for agriculture in Maine. At the demonstration, participants in the programs will demonstrate fun, delicious, kid-friendly recipes, and promote the abundance of healthy and nutritious smoothie ingredients you can find right here in Maine.

"Smoothies" are rich, nutritious drinks made from pureed fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients. They are easy to make with a home blender, and are a great way to include more fruits and vegetables in anyone’s diet. The recipes included in this program feature Maine-grown ingredients.

Event organizer Yvette Meunier, a DACF promotional coordinator, commented, "We are very excited to highlight the availability of healthy local Maine agricultural products and promote the great work being done in Maine to public awareness of local agriculture. Having kids prepare and present their recipes and knowledge about Maine’s agriculture on stage is a wonderful way to demonstrate their enthusiasm for these programs."

The Kids Smoothie Demo will also provide a chance for the audience to learn more about the many programs around the state that work to introduce kids to agriculture. FoodCorps is a national organization dedicated to creating healthy schools and healthy kids, with programs in many Maine school systems.

Ryan Parker, FoodCorps Maine State Program Manager, helped organize the event and added, "This smoothie demonstration, featuring one of FoodCorps Maine's incredible service members, Allie Cook, as well as members of the staff and students of Indian Township School, features some great examples of the diverse products produced right here in Maine, including maple syrup from the Passamaquoddy Tribe. With Maine maple syrup in a smoothie, you're likely to run out!"

"Kid chefs" from the participating programs will prepare and present smoothie recipes to the audience. To add more fun to the program, there will be a Smoothie Bike on hand, courtesy of the Children’s Discovery Museum. This bike-powered blender will give kids an opportunity to blend smoothies using their own energy. Students from the FoodCorps program will assist the chefs in handing out smoothie samples, sharing recipe cards, and giving out coupons for smoothie ingredients.

The 78th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show will take place at the Augusta Civic Center January 15, 16, and 17. Admission is free. The Kids Smoothie Demonstration will take place on the stage at the show, where there is ample seating. Visit maine.gov/dacf/agtradesshow for a schedule of events. Don’t miss this fun, delicious, and nutritious event!

For more information, contact:

Yvette Meunier
Agricultural Promotional Coordinator
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Yvette.Meunier@Maine.gov
(207) 592-0640

About Partner Organizations:

FoodCorps is a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who connect kids to real food and help them grow up healthy. FoodCorps places these leaders in limited-resources communities for a year of public service where they conduct hands-on food education, build and tend school gardens, and facilitate getting high-quality local food into public school cafeterias. Serving alongside educators and community leaders, and with sites throughout Maine, FoodCorps members partner with schools to create a nourishing environment for all students.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is a grassroots program coordinated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and housed at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. Its goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they will become citizens who support wise agricultural policies and local agriculture endeavors. Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is funded by Maine agricultural specialty license plate fees, grants, and private sponsors. Last year, programs were utilized by over 77,000 Maine students. 

The Maine School Garden Network is a group of committed individuals who believe in the profound importance of teaching children to garden, and the far-reaching value of adding a gardening curriculum to our schools.  Members volunteer their time and knowledge to provide guidance and support to anyone who works with educational gardens in Maine.  Board members have experience and skills in such diverse fields as education, nutrition, horticulture, agriculture and soil science, environmental studies, community building, and resource management, and meet monthly in Augusta.

The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) offers a unique opportunity for livestock producers to market premier breeding stock, meat animals, and participate in educational seminars to ensure food safety and quality farm products. In addition, NELE brings together youth for a weekend-long learning experience as they exhibit livestock and develop related skills and knowledge through competitions such as youth shows, a youth cook-off, marketing and judging competitions. The public is invited to see, learn about and gain a better understanding of livestock commodities and the agricultural industry. The Northeast Livestock Expo is traditionally held during the third weekend in May at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. NELE is a non-profit organization governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.