When you sit down for dinner tonight, do you know where your food will be coming from? And no, the answer is not the grocery store.
I’m talking about really knowing where your food came from. Which farm? Which farmer? Did it come to you from another country? Is it fresh? How did it make its way on to your plate? Was it frozen? Was it processed?
Chances are that most people don’t know the answers to these questions. Most people think eating and drinking local is a difficult task, a pain, a nuisance, or additional work. But in reality, it isn’t that hard to go local.
According to 2012 Schaefer Center study shows 78% of Marylanders want Maryland-grown produce. And with 2 million acres of farmland across the state, going local is easy, healthy, and delicious.
Eating and drinking local isn’t only better for your health, it can be rewarding too. When you support local farmers, artisans, and wineries you are supporting your local community. Local vineyards and farms give back and support other local entities in their community. It’s a cycle that comes full circle, and you can a part of it. Eating seasonly and locally is also delicious. The taste of a tomato, in season mid summer, fresh from the farm will taste much better than a tomato fresh off of a truck.
During Maryland Wine Week 2013—a week devoted to bringing local Maryland wine to the restaurants, wine shops, liquor stores, and hotels you already frequent— your favorite spots and hidden gems will be hosting winemaker dinners, discounted wine flights, and wine tastings. Check out www.marylandwineweek.com for a listing of events and partners across the state.
Kicking off the week is our Eat•Drink•Go LOCAL event – the premier local food and wine event in Southern Maryland. With an open-air farmers’ market feel that’s open to the public for free, this event is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the eating and drinking local culture. Purchase a tasting pass to sample wine from 15+ Maryland wineries for $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. Local farmers, artisans, and restaurants will be selling goods, local produce, and food using Maryland ingredients. Check out eatdrinkgolocal.com for more information.
We hope you will join us in going local.
Cheers,
Briana Berg
