01/16/2007

Event Aims to Increase Local Foods in Area Restaurants

Writer:

Martha Filipic
filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu
(614) 292-9833

Source:

Martha Balint, Local Matters
local.matters@yahoo.com
(614) 439-3132

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A gathering of local farmers, chefs, restaurateurs and artisans is planned for Sunday, Jan. 28, to encourage more locally grown foods to be used and served in area restaurants.

"Sunday Afternoon with You," a business-to-business event, is planned by the organization Local Matters in partnership with Innovative Farmers of Ohio and the Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI) of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at Ohio State University. It is sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

Molly Bean Smith, research associate with SRI, said the gathering builds on a recent event for farmers on direct marketing.

"We hope this 'meet-and-greet' allows Ohio farmers to establish relationships with buyers that expand their growing and marketing opportunities," she said. Local food systems development and research is a core project of SRI.

Martha Balint, director of Local Matters and organizer of the free event, said chefs will introduce themselves and describe what sorts of local foods they'd like in their restaurants. The rest of the afternoon will be informal conversation while enjoying "as much local food as we can find in Ohio in January," Balint said. "It's about making business contacts," Balint said.

The event will be held at the Ristorante Z Cucina, 1368 Grandview Ave., from 2-4 p.m. Reservations are required by Friday, Jan. 26, by contacting Balint at (614) 439-3132 or local.matters@yahoo.com.

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