INDIANTOWN – A bounty of locally sourced, fresh food combined with the talents and tastes of Healthy Harvest Catering highlighted a scrumptious farm-to-table brunch at the annual Spring Forward for Hunger event benefiting Treasure Coast Food Bank.

The sold-out crowd enjoyed an array of dishes prepared especially for the event, including Healthy Harvest Ratatouille, Beef Tenderloin Tip Skewers with sage butter, Colossal Shrimp Skewers with sweet & spicy sauce, and Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes. Guests also had the option of fresh made omelets and made-to-order crepes with strawberries and crème. Spring Forward for Hunger took place on March 30 at Kai Kai Farm.

The event raised enough for Treasure Coast Food Bank to provide 288,000 meals for those struggling with hunger on the Treasure Coast.

“Thank you all for joining us at the 4th Annual Spring Forward for Hunger. This is the 30th anniversary of Treasure Coast Food Bank working to end hunger on the Treasure Coast and my 10th year with Treasure Coast Food Bank,” said Judith Cruz, President and CEO. “In recent years we’ve moved away from just providing food to those in need and moved toward programs that help people build a more self-sustaining future. Those include innovative programs like Healthy Harvest Catering program and our Green Apron Culinary program.”

Cruz introduced Treasure Coast Food Bank’s executive chef who leads the catering and culinary programs. Healthy Harvest Catering uses locally grown produce and locally sourced foods, underscoring Treasure Coast Food Bank’s alliance with the local farming community and commitment to providing healthy, nutritious foods grown close to home to individuals struggling with hunger in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties.

In addition to the brunch, the event included music by the Blue Cypress Bluegrass Band, tours of Kai Kai Farm, and a silent auction of items and excursions.

Cruz thanked event sponsors Sal and Sharon Saraniti, John and Joyce Slavsky, Jeffrey Braun, and the Macrae family, as well as other sponsors George E. Warren, Corp., Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, Kai Kai Farm, New Vision Eye Center, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, Berry Fresh Café, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Waldo’s. Ecotone Farm provided hydroponically grown gourmet lettuces for each guest to take home.

About Treasure Coast Food Bank

Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community each year with millions of meals valued at more than $50 million through robust programs and in partnership with 400 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to emergency food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. For more information on Treasure Coast Food Bank, call 772.489.3034, log on to stophunger.org, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/tcfoodbank, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tcfoodbank.

This article was distributed through Treasure Coast Business, a news service for the readers and advertisers of Indian River Magazine.