Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan Host 10th Annual Buy Local Cookout

Event celebrates “Buy Local Challenge Week” by featuring local products, recipes, chefs       

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan hosted the 10^th annual Buy Local Cookout at Government House this evening and officially recognized Maryland’s “Buy Local Challenge Week,” which encourages Marylanders to incorporate at least one locally grown, produced, or harvested product into their meals each day. Governor Hogan officially declared July 22-30 as “Buy Local Challenge Week” to raise awareness about the benefits of local farms and food so that Marylanders will become more familiar and more frequent consumers of fresh, local products.

“The Buy Local Cookout is a great opportunity to showcase Maryland’s culinary culture while supporting our local farmers and producers,” said Governor Hogan. “Many businesses—from grocery store chains, to distributors, and restaurants—rely on the fresh, nutritious food grown right here in Maryland, and that relationship helps keep our agricultural industry strong, diverse, and sustainable. I thank all of the talented chefs who submitted recipes for this year’s event.”

The Buy Local Challenge, created in 2006 by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, has grown into a statewide initiative that has continued to grow. In its 2012 Policy Choices Survey, the University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy found that more than 78 percent of Marylanders said they want to buy produce grown by a Maryland farmer.

“As demand for local products continues to grow, Maryland is now home to more than 140 farmers markets,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “We are committed to connecting local consumers with local producers, and I encourage all Marylanders to check our searchable database at MarylandsBest.net to find local products and markets near them.”

Earlier this year, Governor Hogan invited teams of chefs and producers to submit original recipes that highlight the diversity of local products. Some 45 recipes were submitted, with 20 selected. First Lady Yumi Hogan and Government House chefs provided an entrée and dessert for the cookout. This year also featured recipes by student chefs from Annapolis High School, Northeast High School, Anne Arundel Community College, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore at the Universities at Shady Grove.

All recipe submissions have been compiled and published in the 2017 Buy Local Cookout Recipes, which includes wine, beer or spirits pairing recommendations. This year’s cookbook and all previous cookbooks are available for free on the department’s website.

In addition to those contributing to the recipes featured at the cookout, the Brewers Association of Maryland,  George’s Mixes, Honest Tea, Greenstreet Gardens, Maryland Distillers Guild, Maryland Wineries Association and three of the nine dairy farms on Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail – Keyes Creamery, Kilby Cream, and Prigel Family Creamery –also provided products for the event. Musical entertainment was provided by The Geckos.

Agriculture contributes $8.25 billion annually and 45,600 jobs to our state’s economy every year, according to a University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2013 report.

Attendees included agricultural leaders, producers, chefs, buyers from groceries, restaurants and institutions, and legislators.

• See the menu featured at the cookout or see recipes, chefs and producers by county.
• See brief biographies of each featured chef and producer
• For more information, including menu stats, benefits of buying local and more, visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture

Find local Maryland products, locate a farmers market and more at: www.marylandsbest.net.

EDITOR’S NOTES:

• Photos available upon request (and will be available on Flickr)
• Hashtags:#BuyLocalChallenge, #BuyLocalCookout, and #BuyLocal

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