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Although local food is a common and popular term, there is
no single definition for “local” foods. Individual, family
and community food decisions are made for a variety of
reasons including, but not limited to: nutrition and health,
accessibility and convenience, food safety, the environment,
economics and enjoyment and taste.
Although “local” food is available in Ohio all year round
like fresh, canned, frozen and dried fruits, vegetables,
meats, condiments, honey, milk and baked goods, summer is
the perfect time of year to recognize local foods since we
can also include all of the fresh fruits and
vegetables available from gardens and farms. Eating more
fruits and vegetables is a valuable way to increase
nutrition and health. At this time of year when we enjoy an
abundance of variety of produce it’s even easier to eat
more!
All around the world, food is often used as a way to express
love. Penzys Spices has two great quotes about cooking:
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Heal the World…Cook Dinner Tonight
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Love People. Cook Them Tasty Food.
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Another message from a market in Columbus, OH is “Shop
Locally. Cook Globally.”
Those previous messages were all about cooking – and healthy
cooking and eating is one way to show love to friends and
family! In addition to cooking, there are other ways to
enjoy local foods and to show love.
Do you have a favorite memory or story about food? Make sure
you share that with friends or family or on social media. If
you share your photos and stories online use #LocalFoodsOH
and be sure to follow Ohio Local Foods Week on Facebook and
Twitter. In addition to your personal meals and social
media, look for an event in Northwest Ohio to attend. Here
are a few options.
Saturday, August 6, help celebrate Ohio Local
Foods Week as well as National Farmers’ Market Week.
Stop by the table staffed by OSU Extension, Lucas County and
the Northwest Ohio Food Council at the Downtown Toledo
Farmers Market (525 Market Street in the Warehouse District)
between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Check out events going on
for the week, choose some easy recipes with fresh produce
and enter for your chance to win $10 in tokens for the
Toledo Farmers Market. The tokens can be used at the
Downtown Toledo Farmers Market and their satellite markets
including Wednesdays at Westgate.
Interested in home canning?
On Tuesday, August 9, OSU Extension, Lucas County will
present the
Basics of home canning: Water bath or pressure canning? This
class will give an Overview of food safety, the science of
home canning and updated resources to help the home canner
create a safe product. The class will be offered two times
on this day at the Heatherdowns Branch Library (3265
Glanzman Rd, Toledo, OH 43614), first from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
and again at 7:00-8:00 p.m.
How about lunch?
Visit downtown Toledo for Local Food Fridays from 11:00 a.m.
– 1:30 p.m. on Jackson Street outside of the Government
Center. Grab lunch from a food truck, support local farmers
and enjoy live music while you dine. Join the Northwest
Ohio Food Council for a toast to Ohio Local Foods.
Urban Farm Tour:
Like “local foods”, there is no single definition for urban
agriculture although the word “urban” indicates a location
within the city and “agriculture” is about growing plants
and raising animals. Often, urban agriculture is grown
within the city and the distribution and marketing happens
within or around the city. Sometimes it might be considered
an “alternative farming system” since it is not located in
the traditional rural area.
Are you interested in touring one of Toledo’s urban ag
sites? As part of the 2016 Ohio Sustainable Farm Tour
Series, the University Church at 4747 Hill Avenue, Toledo,
OH 43615 is hosting a Community Urban Agriculture Tour on
Saturday, August 20, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to visit and learn about topics such as
greenhouses, hoop houses, fruit trees, fish, chickens and
hugelkultur.
For questions about any of the local foods events, please
visit
http://lucas.osu.edu or contact Patrice at 419-213-2022
or
powers-barker.1@osu.edu
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