Eat Local Month Shines Light on Local Food 3.26.15

Lowcountry Local First (LLF) kicks-off its 4^th annual Eat Local Month April 1st. Presented by Limehouse Produce, Eat Local Month is a Lowcountry Local First initiative to raise awareness of the positive community benefits of supporting lowcountry farms and food businesses. Throughout the month, LLF will provide educational opportunities and events for the community to directly connect with local farmers, restaurants, businesses and organizations. Activities and events to include:

• Eat Local Challenge: April 1-30 – Shift at least $10 of weekly food spending toward local food and drink. Sign up now as an individual, family or team. Free.
• Plow to Chow: Sat April 4 – Celebrate the opening day of the downtown Charleston Farmers Market under the LLF tent with complimentary chef tastings by Artisan Meat Share, Cypress and The Glass Onion sourced with fresh produce from Limehouse Produce, along with a kid’s activity by The Green Hearts, and a farm-inspired photo booth. Marion Square, 8am – 2pm. Free.
• Chef’s Potluck: Sun April 26 – The biggest farmer-to-chef-to-table event in the southeast, with 15 chefs and 20+ farmers under the live oaks at Middleton Place. Music by Garage Cuban Band, live auction, and local libations. 4-7pm. Tickets are all-inclusive and on sale now.

“We have great momentum in the Charleston area around supporting our local farmers and fishermen but there is still a need to shift more dollars towards these businesses in order to see the long-term benefits,” explains LLF Executive Director Jamee Haley. “Eat Local Month provides a reminder to the community on the environmental, societal and local economic benefits we achieve each time we choose to spend our money with a local food producer.” Proceeds from Eat Local Month support Lowcountry Local First’s Growing New Farmers Program which incubates six farm businesses at Dirt Works Incubator Farm, has graduated 107 new farmer apprentices, provides training for hundreds of small to mid-sized farms, and educates the public on the importance of supporting local farms and food businesses. “Limehouse Produce is proud to sponsor Eat Local Month again for the 4th year as the kick-off to another season of South Carolina produce,” says Andrea Limehouse, Vice President of Limehouse Produce. “We support the mission of Lowcountry Local First, and it’s always exciting to honor the annual arrival of local produce after the winter months.” Eat Local Month is made possible by our generous sponsors, including presenting sponsor Limehouse Produce as well as Charleston City Paper, Charleston Magazine, Charleston Convention and Visitor Bureau, Cypress, Glass Onion, Middleton Place, Nelson Printing, Roper Saint Frances, Ruth’s House Event Rentals, Sonitrol Security Systems and Summers Corner. ABOUT: Lowcountry Local First, a nonprofit organization, cultivates local economic prosperity and quality of life by increasing community support for locally-owned, independent businesses and farmers. To learn more about Eat Local Month, visit lowcountrylocalfirst.org; find us on Twitter: @lowcountrylocal #EatLocalCHS; and Facebook: facebook.com/LowcountryLocalFirst.