The Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival kicked off Wednesday evening with a packed event called Fresh Off the Farm. The Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury was packed with food aficionados feasting on delectables with a strong Island flavor.

Tim Starzyk pours a lot of wine. — Mark Alan Lovewell

Local vendors ringed the hall, offering tastes of their specialties to the enthusiastic crowd. Islanders mixed with many visitors comparing food notes, while sampling wines from Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant and Wash Ashore Beer Company.

Nick Turner occupied one busy corner of the Agricultural Hall shucking fresh oysters as fast as his hands could work. Mr. Turner operates Honeysuckle Oyster Farm located in Katama Bay, a job that keeps him so busy, he rarely gets to see people enjoying his product.

“Shucking oysters fresh off the farm,” Mr. Turner said. “People are eating oysters, that’s a good thing. It’s always nice to see the people that are eating the oysters at the end of the day.”

A chef from Rosewater Market in Edgartown served up ample sized sliders.

Rosewater Market offered pulled pork sliders. — Mark Alan Lovewell

“It’s a pulled pork slider, we use Chilmark coffee for the barbecue sauce,” the chef said. “Topped with coleslaw. It gives it a little crunch, a little sweetness.”

Among the most popular food booths was State Road restaurant, which offered a freshly baked chicken pot pie made with a dozen different ingredients all produced on Martha’s Vineyard.

The Pie Chicks, intent on saving the world one pie at a time, served up apple, pumpkin, chocolate bourbon pecan and blueberry pies made earlier in the day at their Vineyard Haven bakery.

Holly Robinson and Chrissy Kinsman of Pie Chicks. — Mark Alan Lovewell

“It’s fun to be here and be a part of it,” baker Holly Robinson said. “I’m just here to spread pie and spread love.”

Chilmark Coffee proprietor Todd Christy was happy to top off an evening of food with a cup of freshly roasted and brewed coffee.

“We’re the only roaster on the Island,” Mr. Christy said. “We work with small farmers and a little higher quality coffee. Last year we roasted 28,000 pounds. That’s a lot of coffee for a little roaster like me.”

Goodnight Louise provided the music. — Mark Alan Lovewell

Proceeds from the kickoff event go to Island Grown Schools and the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s Farmers Program. The evening of food and wine was sponsored by Cape Cod Five, The Christina Gallery, and Martha’s Vineyard Magazine.

The Food and Wine Festival continues throughout the weekend, with more than a dozen events, many based at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Katama. Some of the events are already sold out.

The festival’s signature event, the grand tasting, is on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Winnetu. The event is billed as a celebration of sea, farm and vine. More than 250 vendors will offer a taste of wines, spirits, brews, and gourmet food.

Visit mvfoodandwine.com.