The Pittsburgh region has a remarkable abundance of small farms within just a few miles of the city limits. And neighborhoods that don't have farms often host one or more farmers' markets throughout the growing season. But while many Pittsburghers know of one or two nearby farms or markets, we may not realize just how many others are available to us.
The
Buy Fresh Buy Local initiative at
PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) aims to raise the public profile of local growers and help consumers in our region find growers to buy from and locate restaurants that specialize in locally grown food.
Year-round, you can visit their site to learn more about these offerings. But on July 24, there's a special opportunity: Buy Fresh Buy Local's annual Farm Tour is happening all day on that Saturday. Visitors are encouraged to map out their own route (check out the
map here). Begin at any of the participating farms (you'll pay a $10-per-carload fee at the first farm you visit) and get a pass that allows admission to all the other farms.
This year's tour includes more than 20 farms featuring spinning and sheep shearing at Wild Rose Farm, a hay wagon ride to visit cows and spring calves at Burns Angus Farm, sustainable living at Quiet Creek Herb Farm, in-depth tours of Pounds Turkey Farm, pick your own berries at Soergels Orchards and cheese-making demonstrations at Hatchtown Road Cheese. Expect kid-friendly activities, fresh samples, hands-on demos and even a few discounts on homegrown products.
"At PASA, we work to promote small farmers and help them with marketing and networking," says Leah Smith, PASA's member services manager for the western region. "And we do consumer education about local foods -- how to find them, appreciate them, connect with local farmers, and really understand where your food is coming from."
Money raised during next weekend's Farm Tour, she says, "helps us continue doing that consumer education."
Writer: Melissa Rayworth
Source: Leah Smith, PASA
Image courtesy of PASA/Buy Fresh Buy Local