By Cynthia Rosenfeld

The Duxbury Food and Wine Festival is one week away, and the family friendly highlight of the festival is the Food For Thought Farmers’ Market and Fair. On Saturday September 27^th from noon to 4pm, Food for Thought will get families thinking about where our food comes from, and exploring the benefits of eating fresh and organic. Admission is free of charge and no alcohol will be served.

Local farmers, foodies and chefs will come together to talk about growing fresh food, how to prepare it, and creative ways to serve it. Guests will be able to sample the food, and purchase their favorites. Presentations will take place inside and outside the DSU for the duration of the event. Here is what to expect.

Upon arriving at Food For Thought, guests will find an array of booths and tents set up outside of the DSU, populated with a variety of local vendors. Browse the Cretinon’s Farm stand for seasonal vegetables. Bee keeper Jenny DeFreitas will be at her booth sharing knowledge about the role of bees in food production, and sharing local honey. Also outside will be Foxboro Cheese Co., who will be talking to people about the benefits of raw milk, often used by allergy sufferers. Children will be able to interact with Alpine dairy goats, which which produce a milk excellent for arthritis sufferers and digestive disorders.

Donde Thiago, a staple food vendor at local farmers markets, will be selling their famous stuffed arepas. Arepas are corn-based flatbreads typical of Colombia, filled with vegetables, fruits, meats, and cheeses. There will be two food trucks as well. There will be two food trucks as well. Old Harbor Catering will be selling lobster rolls, chowder, and roast beef sliders, while Sadie Mae’s Cupcake truck will serve cupcakes, including vegan and gluten free varieties.

Inside the DSU, guests will be treated to sights, sounds, tastes and smells of local favorites. There will be a chef demonstration, a presentation by Simpson Springs about water, and a talk about oyster farming by Paul Hagan of King Caesar Oysters. The DSU will host its own version of Fear Factor, where they encourage kids to experiment with such fearsome foods as kale. Julia Swartz will be giving her famous “Food and Mood” talk, which demonstrates the connection between what you eat and your emotional and physical well-being.

This family friendly event is free of charge. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the other Duxbury Food and Wine Festival Events, visit www.duxburyfoodandwinefestival.com