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Greetings from Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local!
Spring launches the start of the best months to buy fresh, local foods. Lancaster County residents are particularly lucky to live in an area rich in agricultural production. The benefit is direct access to fresher, better tasting, more affordable foods; Lancaster BFBL is here to make it easy to find local foods convenient to your home, workplace and everywhere in between.
Why, you might ask, does Lancaster, of all places, need a Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign? It's because Lancaster's local foods can't be taken for granted. Today, a farmer receives only about 16 cents of every dollar spent on food, and the average farm household earns about 87 percent of its income from non-farm sources. Farmers, locally and nationally, struggle to make a viable living from farming. Many go out of business.
In Lancaster County from the late 1990's to the early 2000's, there was a 40 percent decline in direct-farm-to-consumer sales. Thanks to the work of Buy Fresh Buy Local campaigns across the country, we can see the beginning of a turnaround, including here in Lancaster. But for the great majority of Lancaster residents, most of the food on their dinner plate still comes from thousands of miles from home.
So this Spring make your food dollars count even more! Look for the colorful Buy Fresh Buy Local� label around the County. Behind it stands a network of consumers, farmers, markets, restaurants and businesses working together to increase the access of Lancaster residents to foods grown in their own County. Buy local foods! It's good for you, and good for Lancaster County!
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Buy Fresh Buy Local tells all!
You've got questions? We've got answers! Here are some of the most common queries we get:
What is a Buy Fresh Buy Local Partner?
You'll recognize them--they're the farms and businesses that display the BFBL label. Buy Fresh Buy Local Partners must satisfy established criteria that demonstrate a commitment to local food and farms. Only BFBL Partners can use the label and tagline "Buy Fresh Buy Local." This way consumers know they are getting quality foods grown in Lancaster County.
Are you advocating that people eat 100% local?
Not at all! Small steps are important--remember, if all Lancaster County households shifted 5 percent of their grocery budgets to local foods, our local economy would capture an additional $45 million annually.
What is "local"?
We define "local" as food grown, raised and produced in Lancaster County. We don't apply a mileage meter. We believe that for an agricultural county as distinctive as Lancaster, the meaning of "local" begins as a special place and identity. Connecting with where your food comes from, knowing who grows or prepares it offers unmatched honesty and trust in the food we feed ourselves, families, and friends.
Do you think you're having an impact?
Yes we do! But don't let us convince you--listen to what two of our Partners say!
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Partner Spotlight: Linden Dale Farm
Everyone should have a Buy Fresh Buy Local Partner in their life--these are the hardworking people who help bring Lancaster foods to Lancaster eaters. So we love giving them the spotlight. This month we are featuring Linden Dale Farm, and the delightful Andrew and Mary Mellinger, who appears in the video clip. Linden Dale specializes in all things goat! They have a stand at Central Market, and their cheeses can been found in a number of Lancaster restaurants. Linden Dale Farm has had 6 generations of Mellingers. Andrew and Mary Mellinger now operate this small family farm. They began selling goat cheese in 2008 and have since gone from having 8 goats to 80! Their farmland is preserved and is home to every step of the process-- the Mellingers grow the alfalfa, raise and milk the goats, make the cheese, and sell at Market. This makes their cheese truly a "farmstead cheese" that is high-quality and delicious. The Mellingers believe that serving Lancaster County is so important and they are committed to providing quality products to their customers.
Linden Dale is best-known for their cheese, but they have so much to offer. Their cheeses include a soft, fresh cheese (chevre), a soft, aged cheese (bloomy rind), goat feta, goat mozzerella, and a hard-aged raw cheese. They also sell goat meat that comes from their grass-fed goats. In the future they are hoping to expand their products to include goat milk and yogurt.
Ask Mary what else people should know about Linden Dale, and she'll tell you two things. First, Andrew loves his goats! Second, they are committed not only to the local economy and getting to know the customers, but also to the nutritional value that they can add to their customers' lives. Goat meat is high in protein and goat cheese boasts many good properties. The Mellingers are invested in directly working with customers, getting to know their wants and needs, and working to personalize the shopping experience. Don't just take our word for it- go buy some of their chevre to use in this month's recipe!
Learn more about Linden Dale Farm on their Facebook Page. And thanks to Mary for teaching us about the goats!
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April Recipe
Pumpernickel Toasts with Radishes, Peas and Chevre
This recipe is from Susquehanna Style's food editor, Keely Childers Heany. Grab some fresh goat cheese at Linden Dale Farm, our highlighted Partner this month. Peas and radishes are also in season--fresh is best!
Ingredients
2 cups fresh or frozen (thawed) peas
1 8 oz package Linden Dale Farm chevre (goat cheese)
1 bunch (about 6) radishes, very thinly sliced
Pumpernickel bread cut into bite-sizes (try some from MiLi's Bakery at the Eastern Market)
Directions
Toast bread in oven at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until slightly crispy (if desired). In a food processor, combine goat cheese and peas, and puree. Spread goat cheese and pea puree on toasts and top with about 3 radish slices each.
*You can also use this pea puree served over warm pasta, as a dip, or spread
(Makes about 20 toasts)
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Upcoming Events!
Saturday April 7 Eastern Market 11am - 1pm 308 East King St., Lancaster Sunday April 8 Easter Sunday at John J. Jeffries 300 Harrisburg Avenue This year, John J Jeffries will be open on Easter Sunday. Come enjoy their farm-to-table menu featuring grass-fed beef, lamb, and pork, pastured chicken, and pond-raised duck.
Reservations are recommended, particularly for parties of 5 or more. Call 717-431-3307.
Thursday April 19 Common Hour Speaker: Van Jones "Environment and Equity: The Interface between Sustainability and Social Justice" 11:30 am Franklin and Marshall College College Ave, Lancaster Free and open to the public. Sunday April 22 Puttin' Up Asparagus with Essen Learn how to make asparagus a year-round food through preserving, pickling, and hot water canning. 1-2:30pm Lancaster JCC Oregon Pike, Lancaster $45 Go here for more information. And watch for the opening of the Truax Grill, using farm-fresh products from FirstWatch Farm! |
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How do you find local foods?
Lancaster BFBL wants to know if you've been using the 2011-2012 Guide to Local Foods! Follow this link and take a quick survey--it will help us do the best job possible helping you find Lancaster-grown and produced foods.
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| Buy Fresh Buy Local � is a nationwide, grassroots program managed by the FoodRoutes Network. Pennsylvania chapters are coordinated by the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
(PASA).
Lancaster's Buy Fresh Buy Local � chapter is spearheaded locally by
The Local Economy Center of Franklin & Marshall College.
The mission of
Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local� is to increase the demand for locally-produced foods, and strengthen our local food system by connecting Lancaster County families, farmers markets, restaurants, and other institutions with Lancaster County farmers.
Our initiatives educate the public on the benefits of locally-grown foods, increase consumers access to local and sustainably produced foods, and help our farmers find local markets for their products.
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