Community, good food, and the spirit of local agriculture came together at the Burlington County Agricultural Center in Moorestown for the very first Harvest Dinner.
The evening was hosted by the Burlington County Bridge Commission’s Department of Economic Development and Improvement Authority as a way to celebrate the county’s farming tradition and bring neighbors to the table for a farm-to-table meal. Set against the backdrop of the preserved farm and community gardens at the Ag Center, the dinner showcased the best of the season and the people who make it possible.
The evening was hosted by the Burlington County Bridge Commission’s Department of Economic Development and Improvement Authority as a way to celebrate the county’s farming tradition and bring neighbors to the table for a farm-to-table meal. Set against the backdrop of the preserved farm and community gardens at the Ag Center, the dinner showcased the best of the season and the people who make it possible.
| On the menu were dishes designed and prepared by Chef Desmond Keefe, Director of Culinary and Hospitality at Rowan College at Burlington County, and a talented group of his culinary students. Guests were served everything from curried butternut squash soup and sweet potato dumplings to seared chicken with beans and greens, moussaka, and a show-stopping applesauce cake topped with sweet potato ice cream. But the Harvest Dinner was more than a chance to enjoy a beautiful meal—it was a chance to give back. All proceeds benefitted the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Farmers Against Hunger program, which works with farms and markets to collect surplus produce and deliver it to food pantries and soup kitchens. Burlington County has been a proud partner in that mission since 2021, providing space at Rainbow Meadow Park in Delran for the program’s daily operations. Throughout the evening, local leaders spoke about the importance of agriculture to Burlington County and to New Jersey as a whole. Among those in attendance were Senator Troy Singleton, Senator Latham Tiver, Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, Commissioner Tyler Burrell, Administrator Eve Cullinan, Bridge Commission Chair Sandra Nunes, and Bridge Commissioners Jackie Veasy and Brian Woods. Their presence underscored the broad support for both farmland preservation and efforts to reduce food insecurity. |  |
The night was made possible thanks to the work of Chef Keefe, his students—including Fabrício Pando, Clare Fernandes, Destiny Danielle Maldonado, Patrick Rouse, and Inaya-Shakeira Odd—and the dedication of the Burlington County Bridge Commission. Together, they created a dinner that not only celebrated Burlington County’s farming legacy, but also strengthened its future.
We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring this inaugural Harvest Dinner to life—and to everyone who pulled up a chair at the table. Because of you, Farmers Against Hunger can continue its work of keeping fresh, healthy food moving from our farms to families across New Jersey.
We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring this inaugural Harvest Dinner to life—and to everyone who pulled up a chair at the table. Because of you, Farmers Against Hunger can continue its work of keeping fresh, healthy food moving from our farms to families across New Jersey.
