Farm Aid and Centerplate Partner to Serve Family Farm Food and First-Ever Organic Concessions Item at Super Bowl
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Farm Aid is partnering with Centerplate, the hospitality and culinary hosts of Super Bowl XLVI, to bring fans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis a Super Bowl first: HOMEGROWN Chili. With three varieties — organic vegetarian chili, beef chili and pork chili — this marks the first time that HOMEGROWN Concessions® or an organic concessions item will be sold in the history of the Super Bowl.
"Farm Aid knows family farmers. Our mission is to make sure you do, too," said Farm Aid co-founder John Mellencamp. "Farm Aid is introducing football fans to family farmers by serving HOMEGROWN Chili at the Super Bowl. It's good food from family farms, including some from right here in Indiana."
In addition to bringing the story of family farm food to football fans, HOMEGROWN Chili sales at the Super Bowl will benefit Farm Aid and family farmers. Centerplate will donate $2 to Farm Aid for every bowl of HOMEGROWN Chili sold.
"We're proud to stand side by side with Farm Aid, local family farmers and Indiana icon John Mellencamp in their mission to create thriving family farms. And we're thrilled they're working with us to create a true Heartland Experience for fans," says Centerplate CMO Bob Pascal. "With this HOMEGROWN program, Centerplate is raising the bar for local partnership and, with the first-ever organic concessions item at the Super Bowl, we're setting a new standard for healthy and organic hospitality."
The HOMEGROWN dishes at Super Bowl XLVI are:
1. HOMEGROWN Beef Chili, featuring hormone- and antibiotic-free beef from regional organic beef producers as well as from Patty Reding of Langeland Farms in Greensburg, Ind. The tomatoes are grown in the Midwest and processed in Indiana. The onions, celery, peppers and garlic are organic.
2. HOMEGROWN Pork Chili, featuring hormone- and antibiotic-free pork from Stanley and Evan Hall of Hall Farms in Paoli, Ind. The garlic and oil are organic.
3. HOMEGROWN Organic Vegetarian Chili, featuring organic beans from the Fields of Agape Cooperative in Carthage, Ind. The onions, celery, garlic, carrots, peppers and oil are also organic.
HOMEGROWN Chili recipes will be made available at www.farmaid.org/homegrownchili so that fans at home can make their own HOMEGROWN Chili.
Interview Opportunities: Farm Aid staff, Centerplate representatives and Super Bowl XLVI chefs will be available for interviews. Please contact Maria Enie at 202.248.5460 or at [email protected] to coordinate.
Since 2007, Farm Aid's annual concert has distinguished itself as the first major concert event to serve family farm food in concessions and backstage. More than 100,000 concertgoers have eaten HOMEGROWN food, from hot dogs and burgers to corn on the cob and fresh fruits from farmers markets. The success of HOMEGROWN Concessions® proves that family farm food can supply food service and has the potential to open vast new markets for family farmers.
HOMEGROWN Concessions® serves food that is sustainably produced by family farmers, identified as local and/or organic, or involving other ecological practices such as grass-fed or non-genetically engineered, while upholding a commitment to a fair price for farmers. Through existing supply chains and by leveraging Farm Aid's relationships with family farmers, brands and cooperatives, HOMEGROWN's culinary director identifies family farm ingredients and ways to integrate these ingredients into food service menus for entertainment events.
Introducing more healthful food choices and bringing local flavor to major events is an emerging trend in the hospitality and food service industry. Centerplate is at the forefront of this trend, and identified HOMEGROWN Concessions® as a natural extension of its innovative approaches to improve the fan experience.
About Farm Aid
Farm Aid's mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America that ensures farmers a fair living, strengthens our communities, protects our natural resources and delivers good food for all. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to help farmers thrive and to promote good food from family farms. HOMEGROWN Concessions® brings the experience of tasting good food from family farms into events and venues. Learn more at www.farmaid.org/homegrownchili.
About Centerplate
Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in over 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America, annually serving over 100 million guests. Centerplate has provided event hospitality services to 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 12 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. The company was recently named the fastest growing hospitality group in the country by Nation's Restaurant News. Visit the company online at www.centerplate.com.
SOURCE Farm Aid
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