Jan Goranson, of Goranson's Farm (on left) with Becky Werber, Dietary Director of Miles Memorial Hospital and Coves Edge Long-Term Care, and Rick Hirsch, owner and chef of the Anchor Inn Restaurant in Round Pond and the Damariscotta River Grill. Werber and Hirsch planned the menu for a very successful first Fresh Local Day with produce from Goranson's Farm.

  The Lincoln County Healthcare Works on Wellness “Fresh Local Day” program got off to a delicious start July 8 with a menu that included potato fennel soup, veggie risotto cakes with panko crumbs, steak salad with homemade bleu cheese dressing, and pesto crusted haddock.
  The program offers a menu of dishes cooked by local chefs using local produce and meat on the second Wednesday of each month from July to October in the Milestone Café. Everyone is invited to try the menu items for themselves from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  On July 8, Rick Hirsh, owner and chef of the Anchor Inn Restaurant in Round Pond and the Damariscotta River Grill, helped plan and prepare a wide range of offerings using produce from the Goranson Farm in Dresden, organic beef from Pete Kelley’s farm in Pittston and fresh haddock and shrimp from Fishermen’s Catch in Damariscotta.
  Becky Werber, Dietary Director of Miles Memorial Hospital and Coves Edge, also helped plan the menu. Werber said the July 8 event was so well attended that staff had to make three runs during the day to bring in more food.
  “I was very happy with the turnout and hope that the next one will be just as successful. Our goal is to use as many local farmers as possible,” said Werber.
  The Morning Dew Farm in Newcastle and Mainely Poultry of Warren will be featured at the August 12 “Fresh Local Day.” Chefs from the Miles dietary staff will prepare the food.
  Producers featured later in the four-month program include Spear’s Farm of Nobleboro and The Squire Tarbox Organic Farm of Westport Island.
  Werber said she got the idea for the program while talking with Works On Wellness Co-Chair Dr. Tim Goltz and Miles Dietary Supervisor Jo-Anne Blomquist.
 “I just thought it would be a neat way to show people who don’t normally shop for local food what is available right around the corner,” said Werber.
  The program highlights the benefits of fresh, locally produced food.
  “There is growing evidence that eating locally grown foods has multiple health benefits. In addition, the taste of locally grown food tends to be superior to foods that have traveled thousands of miles,” said Goltz.
  Even early in the season, there is plenty available from local farms.
  Kale, beet greens, Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce greens and were among the fresh vegetables available in June at Jan Goranson’s stand at the Damariscotta Farmer’s Market, not to mention potatoes and carrots stored from the previous winter and fresh strawberries – the first of the new season’s fruit.
  A wide array of produce from the Goranson’s Farm gave Rick Hirsch plenty to work with when he planned the July 8 menu.
   Hirsch said he uses locally produced food from a variety of sources at his restaurants, including a “Morning Dew” salad made up of fresh organic greens from the Morning Dew Farm.