Greetings!
Ready to spice up your plate and boost your health? Exploring local foods is like embarking on a culinary treasure hunt right in your backyard! Not only do these fresh, vibrant ingredients pack a nutritional punch, but they also tell the delicious stories of our communities. From farmer’s markets bursting with color to hidden gems in neighborhood eateries, diving into local cuisine is an adventure that nourishes both body and soul. Join us as we uncover the health benefits of savoring local flavors and why your taste buds—and your well-being—will thank you for the journey!
We hope you will join us each Wednesday at 12:00 pm for a 30-minute webinar. The webinar is free, but registration is required at go.osu.edu/lhlwwebinars.
Be Well!
Kelly and Margaret
Margaret Jenkins
Extension Educator
Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension, Clermont County
Kelly Royalty
Extension Educator
Family and Consumer Sciences / 4-H Youth Development
Ohio State University Extension, Clermont County
Exploring Local Foods
As we explore more of the state each week, one way to tour the “Heart of it All” is through our stomachs! Local foods are one of the easiest ways to get a taste of a community. Whether you are buying from a farmers’ market or supporting a roadside stand, local foods are an essential part of the Ohio economy supporting consumers, producers, and communities across the state. From Buckeye candy and Cincinnati Chili to pawpaws and Johnny Marzetti, Ohio is known for some iconic treats and eats.
This week, as we explore Southwestern Ohio, there are great local food stops to make along the way! Consider finding an open-air public market. In Cincinnati you can enjoy food from Ohio’s “oldest continuously operated public market,” the Findlay Market! This market prides itself in not only buying local but supporting the community around it, becoming one of Cincinnati’s points of pride. Each of the stalls provides something new for the eye from local meat and butcher shops to a family-run and operated bakery. Findlay Market is a staple of local foods in Southwestern Ohio.
Even if you do not have time to head down to Findlay Market, there are benefits to supporting your local producers. However, the definition of “local” when discussing local foods is often debated. Many agencies argue whether local foods are 150 miles, a day’s drive, or just anywhere in the state. In the 2008 Farm Bill, the USDA defines local food as food or products moved “less than 400 miles from its origin, or within the State in which it is produced.” Though the definition may not be super clear to all, the benefit of local is undeniable!
Local foods have real health and economic impacts beyond just supporting a farmer or producer close to you. Since there is less time between farm to fork, local foods provide increased nutrients, freshness, and support seasonal eating habits. They not only taste better, but also are better for the bottom line. Research shows that by removing the middleperson, transporting the supplies shorter distances, and lowering the production costs, the consumer pays less for a locally produced product. Of course, buying local also keeps your dollars closer with the hope that you are reinvesting into the communities you live, work, and play in.
How can you find locally made or produced food? Let’s explore what may tell us we have a “locally” produced food or item. You can look for the Ohio Proud sticker at your local farmers market or grocery store. This label on foods shows when a product has been made and or grown in Ohio. You can also visit the local Farmers Market and explore roadside stands. Take time to learn about what producers are growing seasonally. Seasonal eating is one of the easiest ways to ensure you are getting the freshest food. Local eating is easier when we know what’s growing down the street!
Call to Action: Go to your local farmers market or grocery store and look for the Ohio Proud label and see where it was made and or grown!
Writer: Ryan Kline, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, kline.375@osu.edu
Reviewer: Shari Gallup, Assistant Professor and Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Licking County, gallup.1@osu.edu
Ohio State University Extension is part of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
Ohio State University Extension — Clermont County
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