Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Division and Noah’s in Greenport are co-sponsoring a four-course kelp based dinner to help raise awareness of CCE’s work establishing a kelp aquaculture industry on Long Island. As part of a study CCE received funding for from Suffolk County. Now it is doing a marketing analysis that involves exploring potential uses of kelp according to Kim Barbour of CCE. The dinner is one way to gauge the interest in kelp as a sustainable food source.
Barbour said Chef Noah is helping CCE showcase the culinary and nutritional benefits of this species of kelp. The kelp featured in the menu items was grown by CCE Marine program as part of this project as well. Currently, CCE has six sites from the mouth of Flanders Bay to Gardiners Island where it has a kelp farm. CCE sees the benefits of this initiative as two-fold. First, the growth of kelp farming could lead to an entirely new industry on the East End and second, the successful growth of kelp will help to clean the local waters.
Part of the proceeds from the dinner will be shared with CCE. The dinner is scheduled for June 23 from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are priced at $85. Online tickets are available here.
During the dinner, there will be a show of local artist Kara Hoblin’s marine themed works. A portion of any sales from the art show will also benefit Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Division.
