Maryland’s Buy Local Challenge Week begins July 23 and runs through July 31 this year. The challenge was created in 2007 by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission and the following year became a statewide initiative.
Governor Martin O’Malley challenged all Marylanders to include at least one locally-grown item in their meals each day during that week. Governor O’Malley has designated July 23-31 as “Buy Local Week” in Maryland to raise awareness about the benefits of local farms and food and make the use of fresh, local products more familiar and more frequent to consumers. To kick off the event, Gov. Martin O’Malley will host the Maryland’s Buy Local Cookout on July 21 at Government House. Food for the event will be donated by the region’s farmers and producers.
How do you participate? You can join the 2586 people who have taken the pledge to eat at least one thing from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week. No official registration or sign up is required, however, clicking the BE COUNTED button at the link below will add your name (first name only if you wish) to the growing number of those making a concerted effort to support farms in their community. You’ll get a customized certificate when you pledge!
https://www.buy-local-challenge.com/challenge.asp
Tips and Recipes
The ways you participate in the Buy Local Challenge are as individual as you are. You may take a simple approach and add one or two farm items a day to your meals — perhaps fresh eggs with breakfast one day, a snack of local fruit or a glass of local wine on another. But if you want to get creative, here are few ideas to get you started.
– Visit a farmers’ market or a pick-your-own farm with your family and friends and create a dish together like strawberry shortcake or peach cobbler.
– Take a basket of locally grown fruit to your office to share with co-workers.
– Plan a dinner party menu around locally grown produce or perhaps a wine-tasting event featuring wine made from grapes grown in your region.
– Dine out at local restaurants that are participating in the Buy Local Challenge – show them your support.
Sample Menus Here are sample menus (https://www.buy-local-challenge.com/menus.html) created by Chef Brett Grohsgal and Chef Julia Shanks for eight days of delicious dining featuring local products in season.
Recipes Try this Southern Maryland Oyster Soufflé on the Half Shell (https://www.buy-local-challenge.com/recipe1.html) ,submitted by Chef Loic Jaffres & Chef David Donnells from Café des Artistes or these recipes (https://www.buy-local-challenge.com/recipe2.html) from Chef Brett Grohsgal and Chef Julia Shanks.
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