Charlottesville and surrounding areas Buy Fresh Buy Local guides arriving in mailboxes soon

Posted on by PEC

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (May 8, 2023) – With the spring growing season upon the Virginia Piedmont, The Piedmont Environmental Council is pleased to announce the release of its 2023-2024 Buy Fresh Buy Local Charlottesville area guide, offering a one-stop source connecting consumers to fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat and more, by way of local farmers and farmers markets. 

The Charlottesville Area guide, covering Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Nelson and Louisa counties, has been mailed to 83,780 area households and is expected to arrive in mailboxes beginning next week. PEC also produces a Northern Piedmont guide, covering Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties, mailed last week, and a Loudoun County guide, which will be mailed next week. In total, more than 310,000 residences and businesses throughout PEC’s region will receive one of PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local guides.

Each Buy Fresh Buy Local guide features about 200 area-specific farms, orchards, farmers markets, as well as wineries, breweries, restaurants, and retailers. The guides also provide a travel map of some of the locations patrons can visit, a fruit and vegetable availability calendar, fact sheet explaining various common food labels, and a handful of local farm features. 

“The Virginia Piedmont is known for its beauty and abundant agricultural resources. Our goal with these guides is to connect Virginians to the locally grown and produced food and beverages that exist here, thereby helping farmland stay farmland and preserving the region’s rural economy while supporting the local food economy as well,” said PEC Buy Fresh Buy Local Assistant Faith Schweikert. “We hope Buy Fresh Buy Local encourages people to look to the local producers and businesses around them for their healthy and delicious food stuffs first, before depending on a vast global food supply chain that is ultimately less friendly to the environment and our local economy. Whether it’s meats, vegetables, specialty items or more, it’s already here in the Piedmont.” 

The free Buy Fresh Buy Local guide is made possible with the support of community sponsors, including the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Wegmans, Farm Credit, and Wiley Realty. 

“We here at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange continue to support PEC and its ongoing work with the Charlottesville area Buy Fresh Buy Local guides,” Ira Wallace of the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange said. Charlottesville guides were additionally supported by Albemarle Economic Development, Integral Yoga Natural Foods, Charlottesville City Market, feast!, and Chiswell Farm & Winery. 

Community members can download the Charlottesville Area Buy Fresh Buy Local guide at: pecva.org/buylocal. PEC also has a searchable Buy Fresh Buy Local website, at buylocalpiedmont.org, with an interactive map that makes it easy for consumers to find exactly what they need right where they want it. Learn more about PEC’s local farms and food program at pecva.org/farmsandfood. 

Media Contact: Faith Schweikert, Buy Fresh Buy Local Assistant
fschweikert@pecva.org; 540-347-2334, x7026

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities. Learn more at pecva.org.