OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

localfoods.osu.edu

InvitationA Toast to Ohio Local Foods Week 2016

What is it? A Toast to Ohio Local Foods Week is an easy way to celebrate the food (or drinks) around the state. You might join a community sponsored toast or you can host your own virtually and share online.

Your toast can be at a local restaurant that features Ohio local foods, in your kitchen with a smoothie you make with local fruit and dairy products, or at a visit to a local brewery. Get creative, celebrate and raise a toast to Ohio Local Foods.

Who? Everyone is invited to lift a glass, offer a toast, take a photo and share it across the state. It can be done individually or as a family or group such as 4-H clubs, businesses, summer programs and worksites.

Where? Find and join a toast across the state: Check out the Ohio Local Foods Week webpage to find local foods events near you, including a community toast. http://localfoods.osu.edu/find-event

Create a Toast: Your toast might be at a local business, a community event, your own kitchen or garden, or shared online.

Host a Community Toast: Check out idea starters and please share your details so we can invite others to your community toast. http://localfoods.osu.edu/

Post a Virtual Toast: No community toast near you? Make your own - take a photo to share a virtual toast in Ohio #LocalFoodsOH. Facebook www.facebook.com/OHLocalFoodWeek/ and Twitter OHLocalFoodWeek

When?Ohio Local Foods Week is officially celebrated August 7-13, 2016 but we like to enjoy Ohio local foods all year long! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and share your local foods celebrations.

#LocalFoodsOH.

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

localfoods.osu.edu

Background InformationA Toast to Ohio Local Foods Week 2016

Although local food is a common and popular term, there is no single definition for “local” foods. Individual, family and community food decisions

are made for a variety of reasons: nutrition and health, accessibility and convenience, food safety, the environment, economics, and enjoyment and taste.

Why Local Foods? In Ohio, there is a unique proximity between rural and urban communities Ohio has small, medium and large-scale agriculture from rural to urban areas Ohio has a wide variety of food products All Ohioans are part of the food system just by making daily decisions about what food to

eat Agriculture is Ohio's number one industry, contributing more than $107 billion to the

state's economy. (ohioproud.org)

What kind of foods grow in Ohio? There is a great diversity of hundreds of foods from Ohio that represent all five food groups of MyPlate: milk, grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins. See a list of Ohio foods in the “Ohio Foods Flashcards” activity. http://go.osu.edu/YouthFlavor

In the same way, there is no one single definition for “local” drinks but there are many drinks that can be considered local to Ohio. Here are a few examples of drinks that are grown or made in Ohio:

Milk Milkshakes Smoothie – with Ohio veggies and fruits Vegetable juice 100% fruit juice (grape, apple, etc.) Fruit sparklers with 100% fruit juice (juice and sparkling water)

http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/tn/sfsm_t5famguide.pdf Infused water with Ohio Produce - see Lucas County handout for suggestions

https://u.osu.edu/powers-barker.1/files/2016/03/Infused-OH-water-handout-2016-u3qe63.pdf

Beer Wine Coffee (no, coffee beans are not an agricultural product of Ohio but there are local

businesses that roast and serve coffee)

In addition to a toast, look for other ways to celebrate Ohio Local Foods Week http://localfoods.osu.edu/ohio-local-foods-week/ideas-celebrating

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

localfoods.osu.edu

Plans to HostA Toast to Ohio Local Foods Week 2016

Planning: Invite local foods (drinks) partners to share in the planning and event. With your local food partners decide the date, time, location and beverage(s) for your

local foods toast. Invite your community to participate – decide the best way to get the word out. Who do

you plan to toast with? Share information online around the state:

Share the details of your toast so we can post it on the state Ohio Local Foods Week webpage http://localfoods.osu.edu/ and Facebook and Twitter accounts

Follow Ohio Local Foods Week on Facebook www.facebook.com/OHLocalFoodWeek/ and Twitter OHLocalFoodWeek

Use the following hashtag when posting #LocalFoodsOHFor the event:

Supplies needed: cups and beverages Volunteers to pour and distribute for the toast. Toastmaster Cameras/phones to share the event online across the state

Note: There is no one single definition for “local foods” or “local drinks” but there are many beverages that can be considered local to Ohio. Here are a few examples of drinks that are grown or made in Ohio:

Milk, Milkshakes, Smoothie – with Ohio veggies and fruits Vegetable juice or 100% fruit juice (grape, apple, etc.) Fruit sparklers with 100% fruit juice (recipe here

http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/tn/sfsm_t5famguide.pdf) Infused water with Ohio Local Foods (see Lucas County handout for suggestions)

https://u.osu.edu/powers-barker.1/files/2016/03/Infused-OH-water-handout-2016-u3qe63.pdf

Beer Wine Coffee (no, coffee beans are not an agricultural product of Ohio but there are local

businesses that roast and serve coffee) In celebration of Ohio Local Foods Week, we propose a toast to:

Ohio’s fertile soils, fresh water and four seasons Ohio’s current and future producers and farmers Ohio consumers who are dedicated to strengthening our local food economy by eating

good food The opportunity to grow the word about local food Good food, grown and raised (fill in specific location) Good drinks, grown and processed (fill in specific location)