Last weekend, Rondout Valley Growers had their 4th Annual Orchard Dinner in Stone Ridge, N.Y. The purpose of this event, besides offering a festive night out, is to raise money for the marketing of this consortium of farmers, residents and businesses promoting local, sustainable agriculture by strengthening family farms and preserving open space.

It's definitely a noble and worthwhile cause, but I also like it because I get to hang out with my friends and eat a five-course meal prepared by local restaurants using locally grown food, all washed down with five different New York-state wines. And, the dining room can't be beat — it takes place in a tent, deep in the heart of Stone Ridge Orchard, under the largest oak tree I've ever seen in my life.

It’s hard to capture the essence of an orchard dinner in one photo, but I thought the image of Mike Biltowen, the farmer of Stone Ridge Orchard, and Harris Silver, local food advocate, sipping their sparkling wine on a glorious summer night tidily sums it up.