“With the arrival of spring, so comes the return of the growing season and fresh farm harvest for our tables. Farmers markets are opening and farm stand, groceries, wineries and restaurants are beginning to offer locally grown products. This is time to prepare for the 2008 Buy Local Challenge Week during July 19 – 27. In collaboration with counties across Maryland, the Mid-Shore Regional Council is sponsoring the Buy Local Challenge Week in the Mid-Shore area (Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot Counties). This campaign is created to boost the local farm economy and to highlight the flavor, nutrition and health benefits local products can provide. Among other things, we are encouraging farmers’ markets, farm stands and retailers of local farm products to host special events during the week, and restaurants to develop a “”Buy Local”” menu for the week.

Maryland residents looking for local farms, farmers markets, menu ideas or shopping tips, etc. can go to www.buy-local-challenge.com. If you are a farm, restaurant, or local business interested in participating, you can go to the www.buy-local- challenge.com and click on regional resources or contact Wenfei Uva, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist, the Mid-Shore Regional Council at 410-770-4798, or e-mail wuva@midsho re.org. Participating businesses receive supporting promotional materials, signs and decals for their patrons.

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