Contacts:
Helen Labun Jordan, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3828
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Montpelier, Vt - Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Roger Allbee kicked off National Framer's Market Week (August 3rd – 9th) with events around the state. He also initiated a national celebration by challenging his fellow commissioners of agriculture, in all 50 states, to eat only local foods for at least one day during the week.

“The idea behind the invitation to an Eat Local National Challenge was to engage other states in celebrating their own local foods and to celebrate the importance of farmers’ markets throughout the nation,” said Allbee. “Vermont is a leader in the local foods movement at all levels – from grassroots, to businesses, to state policy makers.”

Starting at the Stowe farmer’s market, shopping list in hand, Allbee made the rounds to each vendor picking items to use for his localvore dinner the next evening. Even with the rainy weather, the market was bustling with activity and lots of fresh vegetables, berries, prepared foods and flowers grown locally. Many of the farmers’ markets around the state have waiting lists for vendors and the number of markets has increased to sixty (the most per-capita in the country). There are also nine year-round markets happening in the state, all an indication of the demand from consumers to have access to fresh, locally grown food.

The next day of Roger’s challenge started bright and early at the Agency of Agriculture with a localvore breakfast. Members of the agency and media joined Roger to share pancakes and waffles made from local cornmeal and wheat berries with fresh Vermont blueberries, Vermont maple syrup, made by Deputy Secretary David Lane, and even homemade moose meat sausage.

From there, a smaller group traveled to Screamin’ Ridge Farm to visit Joe Buley a former NECI instructor who operates two large unheated greenhouses and provides CSA shares from his farm. Screamin’ Ridge Farm also partners with Rumney Elementary School through the Farm to School program.

Next it was off to visit a great example of diversified and innovative farming in Vermont at the Beidler family farm in Randolph. The Beidler farm was one of the first farms to join Organic Valley Cooperative when it expanded to Vermont and are now experimenting with growing grain crops such as wheat and canola as a diversified crop and grazing system. They hope to offer local flours for sale to nearby residents this fall. The farm is also active in the community through organizing events and providing food, for example, to the local elementary school and annual Fiddlehead Festival.

Lunch featured a special presentation of the annual Buy Local Award to Meghan Sheradin of the Vermont Fresh Network. Chef Tom Bivins prepared a delicious local lunch at NECI’s Chef’s Table featuring roasted chicken and a variety of salads. He also did a cooking demonstration for a plum bread pudding.

Roger then visited the Four Corners Farm in the Upper Valley. Four Corners Farm is one of the state’s premier produce growers operated by Bob & Kim Gray. The farmstand at Four Corners has become a popular place to buy a variety of products at reasonable prices. Items on sale range from eggplant to sweet peppers to berries to honey to postcards by Bob’s niece that are true pieces of art. Kim reports a significant increase of interest in the farmstand. “There are people I never would have thought would be into local food who stop in here now on their way home from work,” said Kim. Four Corners has also seen an increase in interest for food to preserve, especially canning tomatoes.

The Eat Local Challenge culminated in a localvore dinner prepared by Roger and his wife, Ann, at their home in Montpelier. Guests feasted on a bounty of locally produced cheeses and fresh tomatoes with homemade bread and crackers crafted from 100 percent local ingredients. The main course featured ratatouille, quiche, salads, roasted potatoes and green beans, and for desert a sumptuous raspberry-honey sorbet served with maple shortbread cookies.

“Challenges to eat only local foods for a period of time are a way to encourage all Vermonters to connect with others in their communities and creatively explore our different local food sources,” said Secretary Allbee. “The community based localvore groups brought this concept to Vermont and now I’m very pleased to have introduced it to state agriculture leaders throughout the country. We’re excited at how many of them have participated in one way or another to celebrate National Farmer’s Market week and to highlight the importance of buying local products to support our farmers, communities and local economies.”

Secretary Allbee and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture look forward to making the National Eat Local Challenge an annual event that kicks off Farmer’s Market Week.

Many other states coordinated their own events to bring attention to the importance of buying local. For example:

• Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey and his wife have challenged another couple to a local foods cook off, with a local producer as judge.
• Virginia is sponsoring an Eat Local for a Day challenge during farmer’s market week where participants have been asked to submit a video of their day with the winner receiving a prize basket of Virginia goodies.
• In Maryland, Buy Local Week kicked off with an all-local Maryland cookout on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion followed by visits from Agriculture Secretary Richardson to various farmers’ markets, CSA’s, wineries and other agriculture producers throughout the state.
• In Michigan, the fourth annual “Buy Fresh, Buy Local – Select Michigan” farmer’s market was recently held on the Capitol Lawn.
• Colorado has a labeling program, “Colorado Proud,” to help consumers identify locally grown items.