NECI Executive Chef Tom Bivins will conduct a cooking demonstration on August 4 as part of the weeklong schedule of events around Vermont in the 2008 National Farmers Market Week, August 3-9. Chef Tom's cooking demo will be at Chef's Table Event Center in Montpelier at 11:45 a.m. Following the demonstration, the annual Buy Local Award will be presented to Meghan Sheradin of the Vermont Fresh Network.

Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee will kick off the 2008 National Farmers Market Week, August 3-9. Secretary Allbee has initiated a national celebration by challenging his fellow commissioners of agriculture in all 50 states to eat only local foods for at least one day during the week.