Do you eat local?
CHENANGO COUNTY – When it comes to food, Chenango County has more to offer than people may think, local economic and agriculture specialists say.
To prove it, two area organizations are challenging the public to explore Chenango’s bounty in the “Eat Local Challenge.” With a list of products – including where they can be found and how they can be used – the challenge, sponsored by Opportunities for Chenango, Inc. and Cornell Cooperative Extension, will demonstrate how purchasing local products benefits the economy and people’s health, organizers say, as well as show them how easy Chenango County food items are to find.
“I think it will be a lot of fun,” said Stacie Edick, project specialist from OFC. “It’s almost like a scavenger hunt, and people will get to know what’s available in our county. They might be surprised how much is here.”
Participants are asked to commit anywhere between 50 and 100 percent of their diet to locally made products. “Local” has been defined as anywhere within 100 miles of one’s residence. There is also a challenge guide and “passport” available that will help participants find their local food sources and keep track of their daily progress. By collecting passport stickers from participating businesses, they could win a “Basket of Local Bounty” worth $75.
Edick believes with a little creativity, that there’s enough homegrown and homemade food to satisfy most appetites.
“I have no intention of giving up my morning coffee,” she said. “Now I can buy coffee roasted locally at Chenango Coffee Roasters (South Otselic), 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 Double Maple yogurt from Evan’s Farmhouse Creamery. Fresher products and great taste – two reasons to shop locally.”
The challenge is being held in conjunction with OFC’s new “Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card program and CCE’s recently published “Guide to Locally Grown Products.”
Testing their ability to eat from the local supply will be Evening Sun reporters Jill Osterhout, Tyler Murphy, Jessica Lewis and Mike McGuire.
“I think we have a diverse group on staff who represent a good cross-section of Chenango County’s eaters,” said Evening Sun Managing Editor Jeff Genung.
The Sun writers will keep a log of their experiences and update readers on their progress in both the print edition and on evesun.com.
Genung said the challenge is a perfect fit for his staff, considering food has historically been an important component of being a reporter for Chenango County’s hometown daily newspaper.
“If there is one thing I’ve learned in 17 years, it’s how important lunch is to Evening Sun reporters,” he said.
While noon time nourishment “ranks right up there,” Sun Staff Writer Jessica Lewis confirmed, supporting the community is an equally, if not more important goal of the “Eat Local Challenge.”
“It’s probably a lot easier to shop at a one stop location, rather than traveling through town to find all of the products you need, but shopping locally is important for the community,” Lewis said. “We can support local businesses and farmers by buying their products, and that keeps our hard earned dollars in our community.”
The programs that inspired the “eat local” push aim to do just that. For instance, Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card holders receive 10 percent off products at 34 participating businesses across the county, while the “Guide to Locally Grown Products” introduces consumers to 66 farms – describing what they produce, where they’re located and where their goods can be purchased.
“With a little work, I think the ‘Eat Local’ challenge might be easier than it seems,” Lewis added. “It’s easy to be discouraged when you don’t know what is being offered or where to look for it, but once you have all of the information in front of you, it’s just a matter of buying from local vendors instead of at the grocery store.”
Those interested in taking the challenge can sign up individually and receive a program guide by contacting Edick or CCE Agri-tourism specialist Sophie Bellanger by phone or e-mail. The guide includes 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, a reading list, a list of Farmer’s Markets and Community Supported Agriculture farms, cooking tips and recipes, a “passport” to local businesses, and other helpful information.
Those interested can register by e-mailing their name, address and phone number and local food goal (for example 50 or 60 percent of a diet) to bounty@ofcinc.org or call Stacie Edick at 334-7114. Bellanger can be reached at sfb37@cornell.edu. Registration can also take place at the Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card space at the Norwich Farmer’s Market on most Saturdays.
e-mail: mmcguire@evesun.com
To prove it, two area organizations are challenging the public to explore Chenango’s bounty in the “Eat Local Challenge.” With a list of products – including where they can be found and how they can be used – the challenge, sponsored by Opportunities for Chenango, Inc. and Cornell Cooperative Extension, will demonstrate how purchasing local products benefits the economy and people’s health, organizers say, as well as show them how easy Chenango County food items are to find.
“I think it will be a lot of fun,” said Stacie Edick, project specialist from OFC. “It’s almost like a scavenger hunt, and people will get to know what’s available in our county. They might be surprised how much is here.”
Participants are asked to commit anywhere between 50 and 100 percent of their diet to locally made products. “Local” has been defined as anywhere within 100 miles of one’s residence. There is also a challenge guide and “passport” available that will help participants find their local food sources and keep track of their daily progress. By collecting passport stickers from participating businesses, they could win a “Basket of Local Bounty” worth $75.
Edick believes with a little creativity, that there’s enough homegrown and homemade food to satisfy most appetites.
“I have no intention of giving up my morning coffee,” she said. “Now I can buy coffee roasted locally at Chenango Coffee Roasters (South Otselic), 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 Double Maple yogurt from Evan’s Farmhouse Creamery. Fresher products and great taste – two reasons to shop locally.”
The challenge is being held in conjunction with OFC’s new “Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card program and CCE’s recently published “Guide to Locally Grown Products.”
Testing their ability to eat from the local supply will be Evening Sun reporters Jill Osterhout, Tyler Murphy, Jessica Lewis and Mike McGuire.
“I think we have a diverse group on staff who represent a good cross-section of Chenango County’s eaters,” said Evening Sun Managing Editor Jeff Genung.
The Sun writers will keep a log of their experiences and update readers on their progress in both the print edition and on evesun.com.
Genung said the challenge is a perfect fit for his staff, considering food has historically been an important component of being a reporter for Chenango County’s hometown daily newspaper.
“If there is one thing I’ve learned in 17 years, it’s how important lunch is to Evening Sun reporters,” he said.
While noon time nourishment “ranks right up there,” Sun Staff Writer Jessica Lewis confirmed, supporting the community is an equally, if not more important goal of the “Eat Local Challenge.”
“It’s probably a lot easier to shop at a one stop location, rather than traveling through town to find all of the products you need, but shopping locally is important for the community,” Lewis said. “We can support local businesses and farmers by buying their products, and that keeps our hard earned dollars in our community.”
The programs that inspired the “eat local” push aim to do just that. For instance, Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card holders receive 10 percent off products at 34 participating businesses across the county, while the “Guide to Locally Grown Products” introduces consumers to 66 farms – describing what they produce, where they’re located and where their goods can be purchased.
“With a little work, I think the ‘Eat Local’ challenge might be easier than it seems,” Lewis added. “It’s easy to be discouraged when you don’t know what is being offered or where to look for it, but once you have all of the information in front of you, it’s just a matter of buying from local vendors instead of at the grocery store.”
Those interested in taking the challenge can sign up individually and receive a program guide by contacting Edick or CCE Agri-tourism specialist Sophie Bellanger by phone or e-mail. The guide includes 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, a reading list, a list of Farmer’s Markets and Community Supported Agriculture farms, cooking tips and recipes, a “passport” to local businesses, and other helpful information.
Those interested can register by e-mailing their name, address and phone number and local food goal (for example 50 or 60 percent of a diet) to bounty@ofcinc.org or call Stacie Edick at 334-7114. Bellanger can be reached at sfb37@cornell.edu. Registration can also take place at the Bullthistle Bounty Discount Card space at the Norwich Farmer’s Market on most Saturdays.
e-mail: mmcguire@evesun.com
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