What if you could make one simple change every day for a week that would have a positive impact on your health, your local economy and the health of the planet? Join the thousands across Maryland who will take the Buy Local Challenge by pledging to eat at least one item from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week from July 18 to 24. You’ll enjoy food that’s fresh and nutritious while you support local farmers.

The Buy Local Challenge will celebrate its third anniversary in 2009. It was designed to highlight the environmental, health and economic benefits farms provide. Participants are encouraged to shop at farms, farm stands, farmers’ markets and grocers that offer locally grown food and wine, and dine at restaurants that include local farm food and wine in their menus.

“The Buy Local Challenge is gaining incredible momentum,” said Christine Bergmark, executive director of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission. The Challenge is one of several SMADC programs geared to boost the local farm economy and educate consumers about the importance of farms.

“Many markets, restaurants and businesses are planning special activities for the Buy Local Week, beginning with a kickoff cookout by Governor O’Malley, which has become an annual event.” Bergmark added.

“I am also very excited about our newly designed Web site, www.buy-local-challenge.com. We have added several features that I believe users will find interesting and informative, including a running tally of how many are taking the 2009 Challenge, and a personalized certificate for those who pledge.”

“It’s easy for anyone to make this simple commitment with so much great farm food available at this time of year in our area,” said Bergmark. “But our goal is also to remind people that without consumer support, many local farms may not thrive, or even survive at all. We would like to see this Buy Local Challenge concept spread beyond Maryland and continue to fuel the growing trend toward healthy choices for ourselves and our planet.”

This year, for the first time, those beyond Maryland are invited to take the challenge. The redesigned Buy Local Challenge Web site, which launched June 1, includes a separate, interactive sub-site – dubbed the BLC Online Community – designed to host user-generated content. This adjunct site allows users from anywhere in the country to create sub-groups specific to their region, to upload information about BLC events, submit photos, tips or recipes, or to chat or generally interact with other users across the country.

Participants can also download free resource material including official BLC logo files, fliers and generic press releases. This sets the stage for a cohesive nationwide annual observance of Buy Local Challenge Week throughout the U.S.

The SMADC was established to promote diverse, market-driven agricultural enterprises, which coupled with agricultural land preservation, will preserve Southern Maryland’s environmental resources and rural character while keeping the region’s farmland productive and the agricultural economy vibrant.

To learn more about additional programs and resources, contact SMADC, P. O. Box 745, Hughesville, MD 20637; phone: (301) 274-1922; fax: (301) 274-1924; email cbergmark@somarylandsogood.com; or visit these websites www.somarylandsogood.com  or  www.somdtrails.com.