Burlington County’s rich agricultural heritage will be showcased during Burlington County’s first-ever Harvest Dinner Celebration next month at the Burlington County Agricultural Center.
Tickets are on sale now for this special farm-to-table dining event on Thursday, Sept. 18, beginning at 5:30 PM, at the Burlington County Agricultural Center, 500 Centerton Road, Moorestown.
Organized by the Burlington County Bridge Commission Department of Economic Development and Improvement Authority in partnership with Rowan College at Burlington County’s Culinary School, the event features a special three-course seasonal dinner prepared by a local chef and RCBC culinary students using locally sourced ingredients from county farms.
Tickets are $75 per person. All proceeds from the evening will benefit the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger program.
“Burlington County is a national leader in farmland preservation but our support for agriculture extends beyond preservation, and farm-to-table dining is something we hope to see grow,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, the liaison to the Department of Resource Conservation, Parks and Farmland Preservation. “Farm-to-table is a great tool for restaurants, cafes and catering businesses looking to serve delicious locally sourced produce, dairy and meats at their freshest, and it can help our local farms remain strong and sustainable. We’re excited the Bridge Commission created this event to highlight it.”
“Agriculture is part of Burlington County’s history and culture, and it continues to be a major component of the county’s economy,” added Burlington County Bridge Commission Chair Sandra Nunes. “The Harvest Dinner is a way for us to celebrate Burlington County farms and promote how restaurants and other businesses in the region can benefit from using local farms as a resource. We are also excited to aid Farmers Against Hunger and the program’s mission to help food insecure families.”
Founded in 1996, Farmers Against Hunger is a program of the Agricultural Society that focuses on collecting surplus produce from farms and farmers markets for distribution to food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries. In addition to food gleaning, the program also provides education about New Jersey-grown fruits, vegetables, nutrition, and cooking.
Senator Troy Singleton applauded the Bridge Commission for organizing the innovative new event.
“The Burlington County Bridge Commission has a stellar record of supporting economic growth and sustainability across Burlington County, so it’s exciting to see it launch this new event to promote the county’s agriculture sector and farm-to-table dining,” said Senator Troy Singleton. “I’m also thrilled the dinner will support Farmers Against Hunger, which is an organization we have partnered with annually to eliminate food waste and fight food insecurity.”
Chef Desmond Keefe, director of the Rowan College at Burlington County Culinary Arts School, will lead the team of RCBC culinary arts students who will cook for the event.
Keefe has more than 20 years experience in culinary and hospitality education, including time as the program director at The Art Institute of Atlanta and as Executive Director of Culinary Arts and Tourism Studies at the University of the Bahamas. He is also an author, culinary consultant and leader of Humble Spud, an upscale food vendor/caterer focused on creative potato dishes. The business is a regular vendor at the weekly Burlington County Farmers Market voted Best in New Jersey in 2024 by the American Farmland Trust poll and No. 4 in the nation in USA Today’s 10Best Readers poll.
Guests at the Harvest Dinner will have the choice of entrée options: a chicken entree, Moussaka (Greek beef and eggplant casserole) or a vegetarian dish. Appetizers and dessert will also be served, and guests will be permitted to bring their own beverages.
The dinner will be hosted at the Burlington County Agricultural Center, a 68-acre former dairy farm on the Moorestown-Mount Laurel border. Burlington County preserved the property in 2005 so it could become a community garden and education center devoted to farming, food production, nutrition and land stewardship. A portion of the property continues to be leased for farming, and the site also has community gardens, demonstration fields and a commercial kitchen.
To purchase tickets or receive more information, visit Burlington County Harvest Dinner - New Jersey Agricultural Society .