{"id":10871,"date":"2014-07-24T19:45:32","date_gmt":"2014-07-24T23:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=10871"},"modified":"2014-07-24T15:16:38","modified_gmt":"2014-07-24T19:16:38","slug":"governor-and-first-lady-omalley-host-seventh-annual-buy-local-cookout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2014\/07\/24\/governor-and-first-lady-omalley-host-seventh-annual-buy-local-cookout\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor and First Lady O\u2019Malley Host Seventh Annual Buy Local Cookout\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Governor<\/a>

Governor O\u2019Malley and Chef Rasheed Abdurrahman (center), Wild Onion Cafe in Hyattsville (Prince George\u2019s County) with featured recipe \u201cAsian Grilled Flank Steak with Grilled Corn Salad\u201d.<\/p><\/div>\n

Governor celebrates \u201cBuy Local Challenge\u201d Week with cookout featuring local products, recipes, chefs<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

ANNAPOLIS, MD <\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Governor\u00a0Martin O\u2019Malley and First Lady Katie O\u2019Malley hosted the seventh annual Buy Local Cookout at Government House this evening and officially recognized Maryland\u2019s Buy Local Challenge Week, which encourages Marylanders to incorporate at least one locally grown, produced or harvested product into their meals each day. Governor O\u2019Malley officially declared July 19-27 as \u201cBuy Local Challenge Week\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Governor O\u2019Malley has supported the\u00a0Buy Local Challenge\u00a0for the last seven years and began hosting the cookout during his second year in office. The event, also attended by Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, marked the seventh \u2013 and last \u2013 cookout of the O\u2019Malley-Brown Administration.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Buy Local\u2019 is more than a slogan \u2013 it\u2019s a movement to preserve farmland, protect the environment, bolster local economies, and provide wholesome, nutritious, great-tasting fresh food for more Maryland families,\u201d said Governor O\u2019Malley<\/strong>. \u201cAs we celebrate the seventh year of the Buy Local Cookout at Government House, Katie and I encourage all of our fellow Marylanders to find local farmers markets and purchase locally grown products for their favorite dishes, not just during Buy Local Challenge Week, but all year long.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe farmers, providers, chefs, and small business owners who make Buy Local Challenge Week possible play a critical role in creating jobs in communities throughout our state,\u201d said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown<\/strong>. \u201cBy supporting our agricultural community and the small businesses that use their products, we\u2019ll continue to strengthen and grow Maryland\u2019s diverse economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 2010 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, there are 145 farmers markets in Maryland and the demand for local products continues to grow,\u201d said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. \u201cWe are working hard to connect local producers with local consumers, and we invite everyone to check our searchable database at www.marylandsbest.net<\/a> to find local products and markets near them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Governor O\u2019Malley invited teams of chefs and at least one farmer, waterman or producer to submit recipes featuring locally grown, raised or harvested ingredients. Of the 28 recipes submitted, 16 were selected for the cookout based on their creativity, availability of ingredients, geographic representation, and maximum use of local ingredients. Government House chefs provided an additional dish for the cookout.<\/p>\n

All recipe submissions have been compiled and published in the 2014 Buy Local Cookout Recipes<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>which includes wine pairing recommendations by the Maryland Wineries Association. This year\u2019s cookbook and all previous cookbooks are available free and online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also donating products to the cookout are: Baywater Greens<\/a>, Firefly Farms<\/a>, GreenStreet Gardens<\/a>, Maryland Wineries Association<\/a>, the Amber Fields Malting & Brewing Co.\/Monocacy Brewing Co., Honest Tea and Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition, three of the eight dairy farms on Maryland\u2019s Best Ice Cream Trail<\/a> \u2013 Kilby Cream<\/a>, Rocky Point Creamery<\/a> and South Mountain Creamery<\/a> \u2013 donated ice cream. Blackwater Distilling<\/a> and Lyon Distilling<\/a> also offered samplings of their spirits.<\/p>\n

Agriculture contributes $8.25 billion annually and 45,600 jobs to our state\u2019s economy every year, according to a University of Maryland Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2013 report.<\/p>\n

During his remarks, the Governor highlighted several agricultural accomplishments during the O\u2019Malley Brown Administration:<\/p>\n