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Carondelet Gardens Urban Farms will be harvesting a record 18,000 heads of garlic in St. Louis this week, which means there will be plenty to meet its high demand at Saturday’s annual Garlic Fest.
For four years, hundreds of garlic lovers from all over the city have come together on this day in June to rejoice in their celebration of “the stinking rose.” And the numbers are continuously on the rise.
Who knew The Lou was a sanctuary for growing this versatile culinary staple? Carondelet Gardens Urban Farms, St. Louis’ leading local garlic supplier, boasts 2.4 acres of garden between four different city lots, where 16 varieties of garlic are grown. “Our mission is to encourage local people to grow and consume garlic,” said Mark Brown, who manages Carondelet Gardens Urban Farms. The nonprofit garden works year-round to promote garlic growing through workshops because, according to Brown, this crop does wonders for the local economy.
With the average price of a single garlic bulb ranging from $2 to $5, the Carondelet Gardens’ 18,000 heads, all organic and pesticide-free, could be worth nearly $100,000 if it were to be sold. And even though Gilroy, California, has already claimed the title of “garlic capital,” Brown (below, with volunteer Kerry Kasten at one of the city lots) says he hopes to at least put St. Louis on the map.
According to a 2010 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United States ranks sixth highest in world garlic production, accounting for a 1.4 percent. With the exception of Alaska, garlic is grown in every state in America. But no country comes close to matching China’s garlic production, at 77 percent, and the Carondelet Gardens team is determined to change that. “We act local and we buy local,” Brown says.
When it isn’t harvesting garlic and holding fests, the garden is constantly donating to community kitchens, participating in fundraisers and giving out free seeds to its neighbors. Just a few years ago, the farm threw a backyard barbecue for a few fellow garlic-growers, and that’s how Garlic Fest began. Now in its fourth year, it’s bigger than ever before.
“Saint Louis needs a Garlic Fest to improve the health of the individual and the community,” says Leigh Maibes of Carondelet Gardens Urban Farms. The festival currently has 12 or more independent farmers on board to “celebrate the beauty that is garlic,” Brown says.
At the fest, renowned chef Jen Ryan, who specializes in American lowcountry cuisine, will hold cooking-with-garlic tutorials (at right, her Garlic and Beer Bread with Spinach and Cheddar), while restaurants such as Black Bear Bakery, Iron Barley, Mom’s Kettle Corn and My Big Fat Greek Truck, among others, will also offer their delights. A garlic-preparing contest will be held, like last year, when I Scream Cakes’ honey roasted garlic ice cream took the trophy. This year’s categories include an entrée, dessert and drink, in which Brown anticipates an award-winning garlic margarita.
Garlic Fest 2013 will host all-day music, self-sustainability workshops and children’s activities among an abundance of garlicky foodstuffs. To see what all the fuss is about, stop by Carondelet Park Saturday, June 15, between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and bring your stinkin' appetite.
