Loudoun County guides arriving in mailboxes soon
Contact:
Matt Coyle, Local Food Systems Coordinator
mcoyle@pecva.org; 540-347-2334, x7026
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA (May 7, 2021) – With the spring growing season upon the Virginia Piedmont, The Piedmont Environmental Council is pleased to announce the release of its 2021-2022 Buy Fresh Buy Local guides for each of PEC’s three Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapters—Loudoun County, Northern Piedmont, and Charlottesville area. The Buy Fresh Buy Local guides offer a one-stop source connecting consumers to fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and more, by way of local farmers, farmers markets, CSAs, and other local food venues. The Loudoun County guide will be mailed to 145,419 households and residences in Loudoun county next week. In total, more than 300,000 residences and businesses will receive one of the Buy Fresh Buy Local guides.
“The Virginia Piedmont is an area rich with a bounty of fresh local food and drink. Our goal with these guides is to connect people to locally grown and produced food and beverages, thereby promoting local farms, helping to preserve the region’s rural economy, and growing the local food economy in the region,” said PEC Local Food Systems Coordinator Matt Coyle, who has led production of the guides. “We hope Buy Fresh Buy Local will encourage families to look to our own local producers for a wide range of healthy, delicious food, dairy, wine, and more, and even ask their local grocers to provide more locally-produced fruits and vegetables, rather than depend on a vulnerable global food supply chain that is less friendly to the environment and less supportive of our local economy,” he said.
Loudoun County guides feature more than 250 local food producers and distributors. Among its listings are 220 local farms and orchards, seven farmers markets, 28 wineries and breweries, 29 restaurants and caterers, and 10 retailers, many of which are displayed on a travel map of Loudoun County. Other items include a fruit and vegetable availability calendar and a fact sheet explaining various common food labels.
This year’s Loudoun area guide also highlights two local businesses. Leesburg’s Buford’s Biscuits is a new-wave Southern style homemade biscuit sandwich shop that blends Appalachian style cuisine with farm-to-table fresh ingredients from local producers, including Loudoun’s Lost Corner and Long Stone farms. Buford’s offers oversized flour-based and gluten-free biscuits, eight signature sandwiches, and tasty southern sides. In the northwestern corner of Loudoun County, the eighth-generation Georges Mill Farm operates a working Alpine goat dairy farm and artisanal cheese business, on-site farm store, bed-and-breakfast, and agro-tourism opportunities. March and April is kid season at Georges Mill Farm, and families can make reservations to cuddle and bottle feed the newest arrivals.
The free Buy Fresh Buy Local guide is made possible with the support of community and food industry sponsors, including Finest Butcher, Wegmans, 4P Foods and Farm Credit. “Fauquier’s Finest, now known as Finest Butcher, has a longstanding tradition of supporting our local agricultural community. We are thrilled to be a Conservation Sponsor for the 2021-2022 Buy Fresh Buy Local guides to continue that support for our local farmers,” said Finest Butcher owner Clarke Ohrstrom.
Loudoun County guides were additionally supported by Loudoun County Farm Bureau, Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Cooperative, Fields of Athenry Farm and Side Saddle Bistro, NOVEC, Lydia’s Fields, Mom’s Apple Pie Company, Potomac Vegetable Farms, Great Country Farms and Long Stone Farm.
Community members can download the Loudoun County Buy Fresh Buy Local guide at: www.pecva.org/buylocal. PEC has also launched a searchable Buy Fresh Buy Local website, at www.buylocalpiedmont.org, with an interactive map that makes it simple for consumers to find exactly what they need right where they want it. Learn more about PEC’s local farms and food program at www.pecva.org/farmsandfood.
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Since 1972, The Piedmont Environmental Council has proudly promoted and protected the natural resources, rural economy, history and beauty of the Virginia Piedmont. PEC empowers residents to protect what makes the Piedmont a wonderful place, and works with citizens to conserve land, improve air and water quality and build thriving communities. PEC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and accredited land trust. Learn more at www.pecva.org