One Local Summer Challenge:

Week One

Locavore: person who tries to consume primarily foods grown or produced with a 100-mile radius of their home.

Yep, I’m one of those crazies, although I have to admit that at times it is difficult and I do love a Double-Stuff oreo. I know it’s unrealitistic to expect my family’s entire diet to be gleaned from the nearby fields but I do try to incorporate as many local foods as possible and each year, I increase the proportion by a little bit more.

Some would call this practice ‘indulgent and hedonistic’ (and to them I say 'peh'). For me, it’s a healthy choice for my family. And likely for my community and planet, as well. It gives me pleasure to know that my dollar is going into the pocket of a farmer I’ve met face to face in the market and that maybe, just maybe, I’m reducing greenhouse gas emissions by selecting food that hasn’t traveled halfway across the planet. And let’s not forget about the flavor! There is no comparison for the freshness and fullness.

And so for the second year in a row, I am participating in ‘ONE LOCAL SUMMER’ (hosted by Farm to Philly), where participants pledge to create a full meal once a week consisting of foods grown or produced within 100 miles of their home and then ‘blog’ about it. This party commences June 1st and runs throughout the summer season so Foodie Fridays will feature my entry for that week. (Though this week I’m posting on Sunday to make the first deadline).

Luck is with me because I live in Upstate NY, amidst orchards, grain fields, dairies and have at my disposal a fabulous farmers’ market, stores that specialize in local goods, and now for super convenience, a delivery service that sources local foods and delivers them to your door. How lucky can one gal get?!

Below is just a sampling of what came home with me this weekend...

This week’s local meal, served on Sunday, was:

Appetizer
Easter egg radishes (Local Farmers’ Market)—13 miles
Bier Meck Cheese (Bronson Hill Cheesery)—6 miles

Main Meal
Grilled pork chops (Cobblestone Valley Farm)—44 miles
Baby greens with herb vinaigrette (Stick and Stone Farm)—13 miles
Roasted red potatoes (Sabol Farms)—24 miles
Asparagus (Burdett, NY)—12 miles

Dessert

Cherry Clafouti

Cherries, frozen from last season (Littletree Farms)—12 miles
Maple sugar (Greenstar Cooperative)—10 miles
Milk (Meadow Crest Dairy)—17 miles
Flour—not local since I was using up the last little bit of commercial before buying locally milled

So, if you're intrigued, check out the other entries, from all over the U.S. and internationally by clicking the 'One Local Summer' button above.