The Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award has been established in the memory of the long-time editor of The Independent Newspaper, the first executive director of Columbia County Bounty, and the first woman to serve on the board of the annual Columbia County Fair in Chatham.

The award—which consists of a plaque and a stipend of $1,000—recognizes outstanding vision and accomplishment in expanding the availability, quantity, quality or distribution of local foods reaching local mouths.

Organizations, farms, restaurants, co-ops and individuals are eligible for the award so long as they reside within 50 miles of the Village of Chatham and their efforts primarily benefit residents of this region.

The 2010 winner of the inaugural award was Joe Gilbert of Chatham's The Berry Farm.

Brian J. Alberg, Executive Chef of The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA was runner-up.

Other recognized nominees included: Beth's Farm Kitchen, Stuyvesant Falls; New Lebanon Farmer's Market; Dutchess County Tourism; Local 111 Restaurant, Philmont; Sylia Center at Katchkie Farm, Kinderhook; Shaker Mountain Canning Company, New Lebanon; Liz Beals of Niverville; Marilyn Burch of Stuyvesant; and Todd Erling of Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development, Hudson.

The Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award is presented annually by Fair Directors on the Northgate Stage on Labor Day, the final day of the Fair's run. For 14 years Simons was a director of the Columbia County Agricultural Society, which puts on the Fair, where she championed organic and non-traditional forms of agriculture locally, facilitated the restoration of the original Fair House and expanded community use of the fairgrounds.

The word Locavore was coined in San Francisco at the 2005 World Environment Day to describe and promote the practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested within a 100-mile area. The Locavore movement encourages people to grow their own food; buy from farmer's markets, CSAs, and other local food programs; and to patronize restaurants, caterers and other food preparers that feature local ingredients.

Vicki was a strong proponent of Locavore activities as part of her commitment to see greater use of locally produced food and to keep agriculture an integral part of the community experience.

As a writer and editor, she documented the shift to organic and niche farming activities locally, and as a motive force of Columbia County Bounty helped bring farmers together with chefs, restaurants and caterers to facilitate greater, more creative use of local food products. She also helped establish the Bounty model in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties as steps toward a Bounty program covering the entire Hudson Valley.

Simons died March 1, 2010 following a brief battle with cancer.

Tax-deductible contributions are welcomed to the Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award Fund at Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, P.O. Box 1189, Hudson, NY 12534.

To nominate someone for the award (self-nominations are acceptable) please submit the form below.

Both nominations and self-nominations are accepted for the Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award.

Deadline for the 2011 award is July 31, 2011.

Entries, if not submitted through form below, should be sent to the Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award, c/o Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, P.O. Box 1189, Hudson, NY 12534. Nominations must arrive before the deadline. Supporting materials—such as newspaper clippings and letters of support—are welcome but not required.

Finalists for the award, who will be announced in mid-August, should plan to attend the presentation ceremony at the Columbia County Fair on Labor Day.

A nomination package needs to include all of the following information:

Person Making Nomination:

Name

Address

Telephone Number

Cell Phone Number

Email Address

Person/Organization/Business Being Nominated

Name

Address

Telephone Number

Cell Phone Number

Email Address

A description of the nominee's business or activities, with an explanation of how they support the mission of the Locavore Award Fund and briefly covering history, geographical area served, market reach, and anything else that establishes Locavore bona fides.

Description

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