"Local Flavor, Local Fare" fresh from the Farm to Leonardtown Square
St. Mary's County is the first to kick off Buy Local Challenge for Maryland

The "Local Flavor, Local Fare" event will be held Tuesday, June 24 at 5:30 on the square in Leonardtown. Stroll the square from 5: 30 -7:00 pm and enjoy the flavors of fresh ingredients grown or harvested here in Southern Maryland. Proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the programs of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity (PH H).

In preparation for the "Buy Local Challenge" Week (July 19 -27) several award-winning local restaurants, caterers and wineries are teaming up to offer a sampling of dishes and wines all prepared with ingredients fresh from area farms, waterways and vineyards. Participating restaurants, retailers and wineries to be featured include:

Blue Wind Gourmet; Brame Howard Inn; Cafe de Artistes; Corbels; The Good Earth Natural Food Company; J.T. Daugherty Conference Center; Morris Point Restaurant; Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery; The Tides Restaurant; Solomons Island Winery; Quality Street Catering.

Started here in Southern Maryland, the Buy Local Challenge is one of many programs created by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMDAC) to boost the local farm economy and to highlight the flavor, nutrition, health and environmental benefits local products can provide. The Challenge is now a statewide initiative, and in July, the Buy Local Challenge Week www.buy-Iocal-challenge.com will ask all residents across Maryland to participate by taking this challenge: "I pledge to eat at least one item from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week." Buying from local farmers, not only means fresher, more nutritious and better tasting food on the table, it also helps to keep the Chesapeake farm region vibrant.

Just as our local farms have an impact on the quality of life for area residents, so does the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity. Since it's inception in 2003, Patuxent Habitat has built nine homes for families who would not otherwise realize the dream of homeownership_ PHH partners with local volunteers and businesses to build homes which are then purchased by the families using no-interest loans
"The 'Local Flavor, Local Fare' event is meaningful to our community because it truly supports our primary producers as well as our local working families in need of decent affordable housing,~ said Gary Williams, PHH President.

"It is our goal to work in partnership with those in our community in need of affordable housing and to also work in collaboration with local businesses to raise necessary funding and awareness for our programs. This is a great example of a community working together to improve the lives for all of its residents, "Williams added.

A donation of $25.00 is requested for the event. Contact the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity 301-863-6227 or 410326-9050 and info@patuxenthabitat.org . In case of inclement weather the "Local Flavor, Local Fare" event will be cancelled

To learn more about additional SMADC programs and resources supporting regional farmers and agricultural related businesses, contact, SMADC, P. O. Box 745, Hughesville, MD 20637; phone: 301-274-1922; fax: 301274-1924; email cbergmark@somarylandsogood.com ; or visit these websites www.somarylandsogood.com or: www.somdtrails.com .