News Roundup

Ithaca Initiative Encourages Purchase of Local Foods Farmers

The Ithaca Journal
July 31, 2006
By Kerrie Frisinger

ITHACA — Today marks the start of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s second annual Local Foods Week, a time when extension staff, farmers and restaurants to encourage consumers to try locally grown foods.

Community members who sign up for the “Eat Local Challenge” and pledge to spend at least $5 during the week on local food will be registered in drawings for gift certificates to retailers and restaurants that feature items harvested from the area. A number of local businesses will have registration cards.

Supporters say that buying local produce, meat or dairy products keeps money circulating in the area and Cornell Cooperative Extension estimates that an additional $16 million would flow into the regional economy if everyone in Tompkins County devoted 10 percent of their food purchases to local products. Reducing the miles traveled between farm and plate can also cut down on the consumption of petroleum products and deliver better tasting, more nutritious food.

Customers “ask the question more now, ‘Where was this grown?’” said Mike Ludgate, manager of Ludgate Farms in Ithaca, one of the retailers offering registration cards.

At this time of year, about 90 percent of the produce Ludgate Farms sells comes from within a 50-mile radius of Ithaca, Ludgate said. The farm also home-grows a small percentage of its fruits and vegetables for sale, he said.

A number of local restaurants will create special dishes this week featuring locally grown foods.

“We try to use the best possible ingredients,” said Greg Silverman, co-owner and head chef at Olivia restaurant, which is participating. “Getting something local means it gets here quicker, so it’s fresher.”

The restaurant already serves only local beef that it buys by the cow. For the week’s special dish, Silverman plans to use “whatever’s fresh,” he said.

Cooperative Extension will host a tour on Tuesday for those interested in learning about growing their own food.

Stick and Stone Farm, in Ulysses, will host a separate tour on Wednesday to show how farmers grow crops and to spread information about community supported agriculture. To register for a tour , call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 272-2292.