CHENANGO COUNTY – Would you like to participate in a community challenge that will help you discover and eat fresh local foods, support your own community’s economy and meet your neighbors? Now you can.
Opportunities for Chenango, Inc.’s “Bullthistle Products: Access to Markets” program and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County Agri Tourism Program have teamed up with The Evening Sun and local businesses and restaurants to create the Chenango County Eat Local Challenge. The challenge will take place from September 10-16, joining other “Eat Local” challenges from across the nation during the month of September. During this week, Chenango County residents are encouraged to eat as much local food as possible, learning about the abundance of foods available during this season.
Residents can participate in the Challenge by registering with Stacie Edick at OFC, Inc. or Sophie Belanger at CCE Chenango; each participant will receive the “Eat Local Challenge Guide and Passport” booklet. Included in the booklet are: a one-week calendar to record the food you eat and it’s origin; tips on eating local; a checklist of resources available within the county and region; restaurants offering meals prepared from local products during the challenge week; a reading list; a list of Farmer’s Markets and Community Supported Agriculture farms; cooking tips and recipes; and other helpful information.
One other reason to join the Challenge: the chance to win a large basket of local food products worth approximately $75. Participants who visit and collect stickers from most of the businesses in the passport booklet may submit their completed passport as entry to the drawing for the local products basket on September 22 at noon at the Norwich Farmers Market.
“I have no intention of giving up my morning coffee,” said Bullthistle Products Project Specialist, Stacie Edick. “Now I can buy coffee roasted locally at Chenango Coffee Roasters, and use local honey or maple syrup instead of sugar to sweeten my coffee – and it tastes even better! I can buy local farm fresh eggs for Sunday breakfast and ham, bacon, or sausage to complete the meal. Or on workdays, eat Granola from Upstate Harvest with milk from Evan’s Farmhouse Creamery. Fresher products – great taste; 2 reasons to shop locally.”
Sophie Belanger, the Agri-tourism Specialist at CCE Chenango reminds us, “if you are consuming tropical foods or beverages that cannot be grown in the northeast, at least try to buy organic or Fair Trade products. This ensures that the farmer and their local communities receive the benefits from the sale of the product.”
“The Eat Local Challenge Guide and Passport” will also be available at the Chenango County Fair in the Agriculture Tent from 3-6 p.m. on Friday, August 10, and at the Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card space at the Norwich Farmer’s Market on most Saturdays. Residents can register by e-mailing their name, address and phone number and local food goal (for example 50% or 60% of my diet) to bounty@ofcinc.org or call Stacie Edick at 334-7114. A booklet will then be mailed out. Obtaining the booklet early is a good idea so people have time to become familiar with all the local food that is available in Chenango County.