For Immediate Release

Calling All Farmers and Local Food Supporters
Deadline for Free Listing in Buy Fresh Buy Local Guide Extended

(Berryville, VA - March 30, 2009) The Piedmont Environmental Council in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Shenandoah RC&D, Valley Conservation Council and Preserve Frederick are pleased to invite all farmers and local food supporters to participate in a Buy Fresh Buy Local food guide for the Northern Shenandoah Valley. Listing in the food guide is free. The Buy Fresh Buy Local food guide will be available in various outlets with the goal of being mailed to every household in Clarke County, Frederick County, Warren County and the City of Winchester. Sponsorships for the Guide are also available.

The Northern Shenandoah Valley Buy Fresh Buy Local food guide will be published and available in May and will list local producers, community supported agriculture, orchards, farmers markets, produce auctions, grocers/retailers, institutions and restaurants. The Buy Fresh Buy Local food guide will specifically provide at least eight months of advertisement and promotion during the growing and production season. All participants will have their operations listed on the Virginia Buy Fresh Buy Local web site at: www.buylocalvirginia.org.

To participate in the Guide, please contact Gem Bingol of the Piedmont Environmental Council at 703.431.6941, or Eric Bendfeldt of Virginia Cooperative Extension at 540.432.6029. Survey forms may be downloaded from the web at www.buylocalvirginia.org.

There is a hard deadline of April 17, 2009 to be listed in the Guide.