The Great Falls Farmers Market, the Great Falls Historical Society and local nonprofit Green Fire team up provide residents with a taste of locally-harvested venison, as part of a "Field to Table" program.
Three local chefs have signed up to use venison in delicious recipes. Tasting of their handiwork will be available free of charge that day, the opening day of the Farmer's Market summer season. Residents are invited to drop by the market to learn more about the health benefits of venison.
The native deer population has grown exponentially over the past thirty years as traditional predators were eliminated and suburban development provided a new smorgasbord for deer. Some state laws and regulations governing deer were passed in an era when the animals were scarce, so many Virginians have never tasted venison: selling wild game is unlawful in all 50 states.
On April 25th, the Great Falls program will inform residents about how taking action to cull the deer herd will restore wildlife habitat by protecting forest understory and natural vegetation.In addition to the chef cook off, the Great Falls Historical Society and Greenfire will host tables where residents can learn more about traditional farm-era recipes for venison and how to become involved in having deer culled from their property. For more information, contact Kathleen Murphy at kathleen@greatfallsfarmersmarket.org or Jerry Peters at Director@GreenFireWeb.com.
