Excitement is building for Flavors of the Valley 2011 which will take place on Sunday April 17, 11-4 at Hartford High School. Here is a piece written at Flavors of the Valley 2010. Join us this year and meet Bunten Farmhouse as well as many new and returning farms, restaurants and other area businesses.

Bunten Farmhouse Kitchen is perhaps the most vertically integrated business represented at Flavors of the Valley. Run by Chris and Bruce Balch, the enterprise shows what you can do with imagination. Not to mention a lot of energy.

The farm--"it's my family's farm," Chris said--boasts a herd of more than 70 Devon cattle, the only milking herd of Registered Devons in the country. The Devons produce a lot of milk, which the Balchs turn into a variety of raw milk cheeses: tastes of mozzarella and blue cheese were on offer at Flavors today.

Bunten also operates a bakery producing a variety of baked goods, including muffins (pumpkin spice miniatures were available for tasting today) and English muffins.

And if that weren't enough, they serve country suppers and Sunday brunch in an on-farm restaurant Thursday-Saturday nights. A typical Bunten Farm supper might feature whey-fed pork chops, salmon, and a vegetarian option, with homemade bread and dessert to top off the meal. More information on the Bunten Farmhouse Kitchen website (www.thebuntenfarm.com).

Both Chris and Bruce have extensive food service backgrounds and co-owned the Sunny Day Diner in Lincoln, NH, before embarking on this venture.

Find these and other tastes of the Upper Valley at this years Flavors of the Valley. For your convenience, bring something to eat with and something to carry home food and information in. For more information go to: www.vitalcommunities.org/agriculture/flavors