Northern Piedmont Buy Fresh Buy Local guides are arriving in mailboxes now

For Immediate Release
Contact: Matt Coyle, Local Food Systems Coordinator
[email protected]; 540-347-2334, x7026

WARRENTON, VA (April 23, 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. 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 and farmers markets. The Northern Piedmont guide, covering Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties, were mailed this week. Charlottesville area guides will be mailed the week of April 26. Loudoun County guides will be mailed the first week of May. In total, about 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.

Northern Piedmont Buy Fresh Buy Local guides have been mailed to 79,186 homes and businesses and feature more than 200 local food producers and distributors. Among its listings are 136 local farms and orchards, seven farmers markets, 29 wineries and breweries, 19 restaurants and caterers, and 12 retailers, many of which are displayed on a travel map of the Northern Piedmont area. Other items include a fruit and vegetable availability calendar and a fact sheet explaining various common food labels.

This year’s Northern Piedmont guide also highlights two local businesses. Nature’s Wellspring, an organic, allergy-friendly plant and garden supply business with one goal in mind—helping others find wellness using the gifts of nature. The veteran-owned, woman-owned business sells online and at the Warrenton Farmers Market. Carter Farms, in Orange County, is an ethnic vegetable, Afrotourism teaching farm where fifth-generation farmer Michael Carter Jr. grows, ethnic, African tropical vegetables including okra, cassava, amaranth, and Ethiopian kale. The century farm sells to a variety of stores and farmer’s markets serving West-African communities from Washington D.C. to Charlottesville. 

The free Buy Fresh Buy Local guide is made possible with the support of community and food industry sponsors, including the PATH Foundation, Finest Butcher, Wegmans, 4P Foods, and Farm Credit. “The PATH Foundation believes that by investing in healthy, local food systems we’re able to make a meaningful impact in our community – as well as supporting our mission to strengthen the health and vitality of our community,” said Kirsten Dueck, PATH Foundation senior program officer.

“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.

Northern Piedmont guides were additionally supported by Be A Culpeper Local, Culpeper Harvest Days, Citizens For Fauquier County, Fauquier County Agricultural Development Department, Box In Box Out, Grelen Nursery, Moo Thru, Rappahannock County Farm Tour,  and local food industry sponsors including Hidden Creek Farm, Lakota Ranch Farm Store, Riders Backfield Farm Beef, Virginia Bison Company at Cibola Farms, Belle Meade Montessori School, Cedar Mountain Apiary, Hollin Farms, Valentine’s Bakery & Meats and Wild Roots Apothecary. 

Community members can download the Northern Piedmont 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