For Immediate Release
Bob Lazaro
PEC Director of Communications
571.225.0198

Take the Eat Local Challenge

The Piedmont Environmental Council is challenging residents to take part in their First Annual "Eat Local Challenge."

The challenge requires participants to eat 21 locally grown foods in 21 days between September 21st and October 11th, 2009. Participants track the foods they eat and where they were grown, and are entered into a random drawing to win valuable prizes from local partner businesses (including gift certificates and merchandise from retailers such as Feast, restaurants, including Mas Tapas and other businesses). Participants can download an Eat Local Challenge Scorecard on PEC's partner web site: www.buylocalvirginia.org/challenge, or pick them up at partnering vendors and community events, including the Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival.

The grand prize, in the Charlottesville area, is a series of 3 seasonal cooking classes at the Charlottesville Cooking School. For the purpose of this challenge, "local" is defined as being grown within 100 miles of one's home.

The grand prize in the Northern Piedmont is a 2-day, 2-night stay at La Bella Terra Bed & Breakfast in Madison County.

Furthering the mission of the Buy Fresh Buy Local program, the Challenge will help raise awareness in the community about the impacts of buying local on the Piedmont's family farms, farmland, rural economies and natural resources. In addition, it encourages participants to see how easy it is to incorporate local products into a regular diet and to develop personal relationships with local farmers and agricultural producers.