2012 Eat Local Challenge

As the daughter of small-business owners, I am a huge advocate of buying local. And since I love to eat, it only makes sense to eat local as well!

When I came across this challenge, I thought what a great idea to not only help out the community, but to also help me become more familiar with what's available locally in our community as well. Plus it's always more healthy, and usually more tasty, to purchase local foods.

Local foods are heathier because they are freshly-picked and are more rich in nutrients and vitamins. You can find the following foods local to Ohio: tomatoes, peaches, corn, beets, beans, and more!

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The Eat Local Challenge is a way to get the community involved and excited about eating local food. According to their website, the Eat Local Challenge will feature a range of challenges throughout the year that everyone can participate in to learn more about our rich Ohio agriculture, local farms and food resources and just why eating local matters.

Starting August 11 (through Sept 8), they will be giving away weekly prizes to one person who has entered the challenge by posting a picture of their local food activity on Facebook, Twitter, or emailing to them directly. At the conclusion of the four-week challenge, they will draw names from all participants for the grand prize!

Here are the details to enter:

1. Fill out a pledge card at one of our partner locations during Local Foods Week (August 11-19) or download a PDF card online.
2. Snap a picture of yourself completing one of the local food challenge activities—we want to see you in action!
3. Share on social media using any one of the following ways: a) upload your picture to Facebook and tag @LocalMattersOrg, b) tweet your picture with the hashtag #EatLocalOH, or c) email it to us directly at eatlocalchallenge@eatlocalohio.org.
4. Spread the word! Tell your friends about the challenge and join us for some great events during the fourth annual Local Foods Week, August 11-19.

Some of the challenge ideas you can do are:

• Taste an Ohio-grown or locally-produced product that you have never had before.
• Visit a farmers’ market with your friends or family to experience foods picked at their peak flavor—and don’t forget to shake hands with the farmer who grew them!
• Dine at a restaurant that serves locally-grown foods. (Try one of Crave Magazine’s Farm-to-Plate Week restaurants or go to local-matters.org/fresh-connect for a list of restaurants that serve local year-round).
• Participate in the Urban Garden Bike Tour, the Foodie Spelling Bee, or one of the other exciting events during Local Foods Week.  See local-matters.org/local-foods-week for the full schedule of events!
• Share a picture and recipe that uses local foods on Facebook, Twitter, or email it to EatLocalChallenge@EatLocalOhio.org.
• Volunteer at a community garden near you, or join the dynamic community of Local Matters’ volunteers! Visit local-matters.org/volunteer to learn more.
• Harvest from a you-pick farm to connect with foods where they grow! For a list of you-picks visit local-matters.org/fresh-connect.
• Host a get-together with friends or family that celebrates Ohio food in season! Visit local-matters.org/blog/recipes for some Local Matters recipes!
• Speak up for local food in your school or workplace as an option for meals or snacks. For suggestions on how to take action for local food, visit Local-Matters.org/take-action.

Or you can:

• Do your weekly shopping at a Farmers’ Market
• Challenge yourself to prepare a dinner using as many local ingredients as possible (and then of course, feast!)
• Visit the farm of a local food that you purchased.
• Try a vegetable or fruit that you’ve never tried before!
• Eat at a restaurant that uses local ingredients.
• Host a barbeque using local Ohio meats (try Bluescreek Farm Meats or Weiland’s Gourmet Market)
• Learn to can or preserve local foods so you can enjoy your jam all year long!
• Go berrypicking at a “U-Pick” farm
• Plant a fall garden.
• Buy a share of a farm through a CSA (community supported agriculture).

The activities I want to participate in include going to a U-pick farm, shopping at a local farmer's market, and making a meal using as many local ingredients that I can find. I'll be sure to share my recipe with everyone here on the blog.

Check out their webpage for more details, and if you can, be sure to sign up and take on the challenge. Let me know if you do. I would love to hear about your results!

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Also, heads up that this is Local Matter's 4th annual Local Foods Week (August 11 - 19, 2012). They have a lot of activities going around town this week with their sponsors, so check out their website for more details.