Growers and Grocers

While not yet a national event, Southeastern Pennsylvania’s “Buy Fresh Buy Local” Week is bound to catch on with the recent attention across the country to decreasing the miles between field and table. Chocked full of events, this week (July 15th - 23rd) will provide several occasions to celebrate and honor local produce and farms around the Philadelphia region.

Events this year include a Kick-off Party with local microbrews and cheese steaks, an Urban Farm Bike Tour, an Urban Agriculture Bus Tour, a City Harvest Lunch and Tour, a U-Pick Farm Tour, “The Book and The Cook” talks, a film series on local foods, chef cooking competitions, and much more. Visit Local Food Philly for a list of everything that’s happening.

So you live in Virginia, Texas, Washington or somewhere else other than Southeastern Pennsylvania? Even if you aren’t in the immediate area of the official Buy Fresh Buy Local events, you can still join the fun in spirit by visiting local farmers/markets near you to savor the sweet taste of fresh picked corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and much much more. If you’re not one to cook much and have a favorite local restaurant, consider asking the chef or your server what’s on the menu that’s been bought from local farmers. If there isn’t anything, encourage them to seek out such suppliers. Even if it’s just “Honey from the Hood” for sweetening tea, every product bought local is in support of the movement to bring food back to its roots, close to home and tasting so fresh you’ll forget the condiments you usually slather on those vegetables from 2000 miles away.