by Judith Forman
About 150 Salem residents gathered on September 12 to share a meal, connect with neighbors, and celebrate the ways food can bring a community together.
Hosted by the Salem Food Policy Council, Salem’s third annual Longest Table dinner took place on Salem Street behind the Sarah Parker Remond School. The event highlighted the council and its member organizations, and their shared work to make healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food more accessible to everyone in Salem. Guests had a chance to tour the Salem YMCA’s GreenSpace garden, and visit tables with information about local partners working to make healthy food more accessible.
“Thanks to all who organized this year’s Longest Table event, especially the Food Policy Council, Root, and the city staff who made it all possible,” said Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “The Longest Table is a concept grounded in community and in connection. It’s a time to celebrate who we are, to meet new neighbors, and reconnect with old friends – and all over a great meal! As we mark over four centuries of this city this year, the Longest Table was held in the heart of our community, surrounded by parks and schools, public art, and our breathtaking harbor. I can’t think of a better place to share a meal with friends, old and new.”
Longest Table guests enjoyed a BBQ chicken dinner, complete with macaroni and cheese, grilled vegetables, coleslaw, and cornbread as well as apples and honey to mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. The meal was catered by Salem nonprofit Root, which helps young adults create pathways to independence through foodservice training and employment. Salem-based Gillian’s Foods provided mini cupcakes for dessert.
The Longest Table was supported by generous donations from the Farm Direct Community Fund, the new nonprofit arm of Farm Direct Coop, which provided local veggies for Root to use in the meal, and Groom Construction.
