May 6, 2019 by Carol Britton Meyer
In partnership with Hingham's Cleaner Greener Committee, this year's Taste of Hingham celebration will have an environment-friendly focus.
"We've ordered 15,000 compostable plates and 6,000 compostable bowls," said Mark Minister, a member of Hingham Congregational Church, which organizes the event in partnership with the Hingham Downtown Association, and Eat Well, Inc. "We want to reduce our 'contribution' to the landfill."
Cleaner Greener Committee member Janice McPhillips has been working with Taste of Hingham organizers. "The compostable dishes will be dropped off at the transfer station to be ground up into compost that will be made available free of charge to residents later in the season," she said. "The food waste will go to Weir River Farm for composting." (The dishes and food scraps will be separated before taking them to the transfer station.)
"We're happy to partner with the organizers to help make the upcoming Taste of Hingham celebration a reduced-waste event," McPhillips said. "As part of that effort I reached out to Weir River Farm, which agreed to accept the food waste, and Transfer Station Supervisor Steve Messinger, who agreed to accept the food-soiled plates and bowls and turn them into compost."
Reusable "Cleaner Greener Taste of Hingham" cloth tote bags will be handed out to the first 1,200 participants -- one per individual or family ticketholder -- and children will have an opportunity to decorate their own reusable bags.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, from 12 to 3 p.m. and will feature appetizers, entrees, desserts, candy, ice cream, and other tasty samples offered by about 30 of Hingham’s finest restaurants, markets, and shops.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, there will also be live music, free horse-drawn hayrides, and fun for all ages. Proceeds benefit the Hingham Food Pantry and other South Shore groups and charities.
A flyer will be handed out with the reusable bags highlighting downtown merchants who will be offering special events and/or promotions in their shops that day.
Now in its 16th year, the Taste of Hingham celebration attracts over 3,000 annual visitors. "This is great exposure for our businesses downtown," said HDA Executive Director Lynn Barclay. This year many merchants are offering special discounts, promotions, and events just for that day and the stores participating will be marked with balloons. Hopefully people will visit these stores and do some shopping while they are downtown.”
The Taste of Hingham began in 2004 as part of a vision of celebrating and building awareness of all that downtown Hingham has to offer while at the same time raising funds (100 percent of the proceeds) to benefit more than 15 South Shore non-profit organizations. Thus far the event has raised more than $250,000 for this purpose.
A favorite part of the festivities is casting votes for Hingham's favorite chowder or soup; entree of the year; Hingham's Appetizer; Sandwich/Burgers/Pizza; Vegetarian Delight; Baked Sweet Treats; and Hingham's Favorite Desserts.
For more information or to buy advance tickets, visit https://tasteofhingham.com/tickets/