Locally grown foods are creating quite a stir. Consumers are tired of buying products from who knows where. They are concerned that processed foods may not be as nutritious. They are concerned that foods in the normal stream may have preservatives or other added ingredients they don’t want in their families’ bodies.

These concerns whether valid or not are real to consumers and, the customer is always right! Foods grown locally, harvested fresh, and delivered to the customer face to face are perceived as better. Many farmers, particularly those with smaller numbers of acres, are grabbing hold of this opportunity. If customers are willing to pay a little more for the opportunity to look the grower in the eye when they purchase, farmers will step up to the plate to fill that need. Imagine delivering food to our customers the way our grandfathers did at local farmers markets, farm markets, and even in some restaurants and stores.

The Ohio State University Extension in Butler County and our Butler County Lamb and Wool Association would like to invite you to an evening on direct marketing of agricultural products on Jan. 8. We hope anyone interested in selling food fiber or plants, anything grown on farms in Southwest Ohio, will take the time to attend.
The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a carry-in dinner at 1802 Princeton Road. This is the location of our new building. If you haven’t been here yet, it gives you a reason to come by. The Butler County Lamb and Wool Association will provide the meat, drinks and tableware. We will have a silent auction to benefit the Association’s youth activities.

The educational program Direct Marketing of Agricultural Products will be delivered by Eric Barrett, Washington County Agriculture Extension educator.

We need firm reservations by Jan. 5 so we can supply enough meat, drinks, etc. Call Jim Rosselot at 513-779-6409, Carol Colgate at 513-738-1373, or OSU Extension, Butler County at 513-887-3722.

December 31, 2008