{"id":20561,"date":"2016-07-21T18:00:05","date_gmt":"2016-07-21T22:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=20561"},"modified":"2016-07-21T12:51:38","modified_gmt":"2016-07-21T16:51:38","slug":"governor-larry-hogan-and-first-lady-yumi-hogan-host-9th-annual-buy-local-cookout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2016\/07\/21\/governor-larry-hogan-and-first-lady-yumi-hogan-host-9th-annual-buy-local-cookout\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan Host 9th Annual Buy Local Cookout\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Governor celebrates \u201cBuy Local Challenge Week\u201d with cookout featuring local products, recipes, chefs<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h4>\n

ANNAPOLIS, MD<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Governor\u00a0Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan hosted the 9th<\/sup> annual Buy Local Cookout at Government House this evening and officially recognized Maryland\u2019s \u201cBuy Local Challenge Week,\u201d which encourages Marylanders to incorporate at least one locally grown, produced or harvested product into their meals each day. Governor Hogan officially declared July 23-31 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

\u201cThe Buy Local Cookout is a great opportunity to showcase Maryland\u2019s culinary culture while supporting our local farmers and producers,\u201d said Governor Hogan. \u201cMany business\u2014from grocery store chains, to distributors, and restaurants\u2014rely 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\u2019s event.\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 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs demand for local products continues to grow, Maryland is now home to 147 farmers markets,\u201d said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. \u201cWe are committed to connecting local consumers with local producers, and I encourage all Marylanders 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 Hogan invited teams of chefs and producers to submit original recipes that highlight the diversity of local products. Some 45 recipes were submitted; and 17 were selected. First Lady Yumi Hogan and Government House chefs will provide an entr\u00e9e, salad and dessert for the cookout.<\/p>\n

All recipe submissions have been compiled and published in the 2016 Buy Local Cookout Recipes<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>which includes wine, beer or spirits pairing recommendations from the\u00a0Maryland Wineries Association<\/a>,\u00a0Brewers Association of Maryland<\/a>, and Maryland Distillers Guild<\/a>.\u00a0This year\u2019s cookbook and all previous cookbooks are available free and online here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Three of the nine dairy farms on Maryland\u2019s Best Ice Cream Trail<\/a> \u2013 Prigel Family Creamery<\/a>, Kilby Cream<\/a>, and South Mountain Creamery<\/a> \u2013 donated ice cream. Also donating products to the cookout are: Baywater Greens<\/a>, Blades Orchard<\/a>, Garrett Growers<\/a>, GreenStreet Gardens<\/a>, Honest Tea<\/a>, Nice Farms Creamery<\/a>, Roseda Black Angus Farm<\/a>, and Triple J Farms<\/a>.<\/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

Attendance at the cookout was by invitation only. The guest list included agricultural leaders, producers, chefs, buyers from groceries, restaurants and institutions, and \u201cbuy local\u201d advocates.<\/p>\n