Pocono Organics grows produce at raceway; serves NASCAR crews
Long Pond, Pa.-based Pocono Organics has partnered with Pocono Raceway for its 2020 doubleheader weekend on June 27-28.
The June 27 Pocono Organics 150 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Race will benefit Farm Aid, followed June 28 by the Pocono 350 NASCAR Cup Series Race. The events will be without race fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, 1,000 essential personnel will be inside the track, according to a news release, and will be fed with entirely organic produce from Pocono Organics.
The partnership between Pocono Organics, Farm Aid and the Rodale Institute will raise resources to benefit family farmers who continue to operate during the pandemic.
Ashley Walsh, founder of Pocono Organics and granddaughter of Pocono Raceway founders, was instrumental in building the partnership with Farm Aid and the Rodale Institute to create an event that will help raise resources to benefit family farms.
“Farmers have always worked extremely hard, but have been working even harder during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve their local communities when people couldn’t get food in stores,” Walsh said in the release. “One of the positive outcomes from the pandemic is a stronger, local connection between consumers and family farms.”
The raceway menu will be prepared by Food Network’s “Chopped” champion chef Lindsay McClain of the Pocono Organics group. The menu includes produce grown at the raceway, for menu items including Grilled Summer Melon Salad and Hemp Pasta Ratatouille.
“Rodale Institute is incredibly excited to bring regenerative organic agriculture to the NASCAR audience in partnership with Pocono Organics,” Jeff Moyer, Rodale Institute CEO, said in the release. “The Race for Family Farms is an opportunity for our nation’s sports fans to learn more about the critical role that organic and local farmers play in healing people and the planet.”
