Six celebrated local chefs are partnering with Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to promote sustainable food production and protection of the Hudson Valley watershed. The second annual Chefs for Clearwater will take place September 17, at 4 p.m., at the CIA in Hyde Park.

“Guests will enjoy a six-course tasting menu featuring the best chefs, ingredients and beverages from the Hudson Valley,” says event organizer Chef Terrance Brennan. “There will also be musical entertainment and live and silent auctions. Proceeds will benefit Clearwater’s important environmental work to protect the Hudson River and its watershed and educational programs.”

The mission of Chefs for Clearwater is to spread awareness of critical issues involving sustainability and food ethics and how they relate to the Hudson Valley watershed, and to raise funds for Clearwater’s environmental education and advocacy programs on the Hudson River, Brennan says. The chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, ranchers, vintners and cider makers invited to participate have demonstrated a commitment to practicing and advancing sustainable agriculture and socially responsible business practices.

The health of the Hudson River watershed directly impacts the health of the ground soil—and the reverse is just as true, Brennan notes. “Chefs for Clearwater is a celebration of the great progress made on both fronts in recent years.”

“The Culinary Institute of America is proud to support Clearwater’s dedication to environmental education and advocacy,” says CIA President Tim Ryan. “The health of the Hudson River is critical to the region’s agriculture and food future. Both the CIA and Clearwater are committed to maintaining sustainable resources and being socially responsible stewards of the environment. Through Chefs for Clearwater, our organizations can, together, help spread that message.”

The master of ceremonies will be Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Tom Chapin. The guest speaker will be Peter Kaminsky, author of Pig Perfect, The Elements of Taste, Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way and Culinary Intelligence.

Tickets and sponsorship packages are available at ChefsForClearwater.org.