Sustainable Connections is excited to announce their plans for September Eat Local Month, a month-long celebration of local food and those who grow, raise, harvest, and prepare it to share with this community. All month long, Sustainable Connections will be highlighting opportunities to enjoy food from chefs, farmers, fishers, and grocers and experience the unique flavors of our region. Festivities are outlined on their website at sustainableconnections.org and additional prizes will be given away throughout the month on social media.
From Sept. 2-8, celebrate Restaurant Week, when 17 local restaurants will debut their menu specials comprised of 50% or more local ingredients. The specials run all month long and are the perfect way to kick off Eat Local Month. Farm Week is Sept. 9-17, and people can learn about local agriculture and enjoy farm activities like the Whatcom County Farm Tour. Meet your fisher from Sept. 17-22 during Seafood Week, when folks can enjoy the amazing flavors from our own Salish Seas and celebrate SeaFeast. Last but certainly not least, Market Week will run from Sept. 23-30, when farmers markets will be bountiful and full of local produce, crafts, and goods.
“Eat Local Month is such a fun and family-friendly celebration of all our incredible local food,” says Jess Meyer, Sustainable Connections’ Food and Farming Outreach Coordinator. “It’s so important, and delicious, to know where our food comes from!”
Back by popular demand, the Whatcom County Farm Tour will be a chance to see up-close where food comes from. On Saturday, Sept. 17th, 2022 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, each of the 12 locations offers a unique opportunity to meet the folks who grow and raise food and learn more about how that food makes it from the farm to the plate. This self-guided event is FREE for all ages.
In preparation for Eat Local Month, Sustainable Connections has released their newly updated Northwest Washington Food & Farm Finder, the comprehensive guide to truly local food in Northwest Washington. The Food and Farm Finder is a printed guide for finding authentic local food, farms, restaurants, markets and products of all kinds in Northwest Washington. This guide helps consumers learn more about the food that is grown, caught, raised, and made right here in Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties. It is distributed to 200+ locations throughout Northwest Washington like the Bellingham Farmers Market, the Community Food Coop, and local libraries. An interactive online version of the guide is also available at eatlocalfirst.org.
“The Food & Farm Finder is such a handy resource for locals in our region with a huge variety of experiences to enjoy with all our senses! To see, taste, smell, touch, and even listen to the sounds that food offers is pretty special when you take the time.” says Maressa Valliant, Sustainable Connections’ Eat Local First Program Director. “We want connecting with local food to be as easy as possible.” To access the interactive map and listings online, explore the Washington Food and Farm Finder at eatlocalfirst.org. This mobile-friendly web site helps locals and visitors find everything that's included in the printed version and more!
New this year, the Farm to Table Trail is another exciting opportunity to discover everything that Whatcom County has to offer. This year-round project from Sustainable Connections and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism is perfect for local foodies and visitors alike; it is easy to use on mobile devices, and can suggest great ideas on where to go while offering deals, promotions, and prizes. More information about the Farm to Table Trail and how to win monthly prizes is available at sustainableconnections.org/farm-to-table-trail.
Sustainable Connections is thrilled to be able to share so many events and opportunities to dive deeper into the rich agricultural and culinary worlds of Northwest Washington and Whatcom County.
These projects are made possible by support from Seeking Health, Whatcom Community Foundation, Dandelion Organic Delivery, Bellingham Farmers Market, Whatcom County, FarmWild, and City of Bellingham.
Summary of September Eat Local Month:
Farm to Table Trail (all year long)
Printed Food & Farm Finders (available now!)
Restaurant Week Sept. 2-8
Farm Week Sept. 9-17
Seafood Week Sept. 17-22
Market Week Sept. 23-30
