Farmers' Market Demos

Kalamazoo Valley staff members Lizzie Luchsinger and Hristina Petrovska will be among local chefs and food educators presenting cooking demonstrations at area farmers’ markets this summer.

Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m., cooking demonstrations featuring locally grown produce purchased at the market that morning will be staged in the middle of the Bank Street Farmers’ Market. Shoppers are invited to stop by to learn more about area farmers, how to use seasonal produce, and to ask the experts questions. There will be plenty of free samples, too.

Luchsinger, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, serves as Kalamazoo Valley’s program coordinator for community culinary and nutrition. Petrovska, a native of Macedonia, has hosted a popular hands-on cooking, music, dance, and visual presentation. She recently became food systems coordinator at Kalamazoo Valley’s Food Innovation Center.

“We’re so excited about cooking at the Farmers’ Market,” Luchsinger said, “Market to table moments provide the perfect platform to utilize incredible local produce, and, introduce community members to fun ways to prepare it.”

Join them at the Bank Street Market on June 16, July 21, Aug. 25, Sept. 22, and Oct. 27. “Our colleagues from Bronson Methodist Hospital will also be conducting demos,“ Luchsinger said. Jason McClellan from Bronson will be at Bank Street on June 30, Aug. 18, Sept. 29, Oct. 20, and Nov. 17. For each session, the cooks will arrive at 9:45 a.m. to shop for ingredients and prepare. Cooking demos start at 10:30 a.m. There is a $60 budget for each demonstration and each week will feature a different type of produce.

“We’ll explore new flavors through simple yet exciting recipes,” Petrovska said. Free food samples and recipe cards will be provided.

The pair also plan demonstrations at the Tuesday night market in Texas Township. “Come celebrate the abundance of fresh and locally grown produce Southwest Michigan has to offer,” said Petrovska.

photo: Hristina Petrovska and Lizzie Luchsinger