Local farms showcased their produce, food service professionals gave instruction or took questions, live music poured forth from the stage and ribbons were awarded to the best pies at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival on Saturday.
The festival is organized each year by the Kenai Local Food Connection, who call it “the Kenai Peninsula’s biggest one-day farmers market and local food celebration.” The purpose is to promote food security in the area and connect attendees with fresh, local foods.
Under different tents at Soldotna Creek Park, a series of demonstrations and showcases were offered, including “Tea 101,” “Intro to Healthy Lifestyles” and “History of Fertilizers.”
An array of children’s activities was also offered. Under one tent children dutifully crafted their own “edible veggie necklace,” under others were spaces for face painting, reading and relaxing. Food trucks and market tents stretched across the lawn, where there was also space to learn about Dutch oven baking. The traditional fermentation station was also in operation.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the winners of this year’s pie contest were announced.
In the youth category, Adam and Megan Johnson took top honors for their triple berry pie, followed by Jesse Fiona and Atlas Ohn-Bar with an apple and wild cranberry pie and Juniper Goodman with a strawberry rhubarb pie.
Moira Ireland led the adult competition with her gluten-free apple fennel pie, the top three rounded out by Rachel Monson’s cherry rhubarb pie and a mixed berry pie by John Messick with some help from his kids, Matthew and Helen.
Carla Anderson was also honored for her baking skills, taking the Homesteader Award with a Dutch oven-made bumbleberry pie.
The Harvest Moon Local Food Festival is held annually toward the end of the summer. For more information, find “Kenai Local Food Connection” on Facebook.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
Children prepare edible veggie necklaces during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Willow King grills up some vegetables during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Megan Weston leads “Tea 101” under the Chef Tent during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Youth winners of the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival’s pie contest stand with their awards at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. From left: second-place Jesse Fiona and Atlas Ohn-Bar; first-place Adam and Megan Johnson; and third-place Juniper Goodman. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Adult winners of the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival’s pie contest stand with their awards at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. From left: third-place John, Helen and Matthew Messick; second-place Rachel Monson; and first-place Moira Ireland (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
