Eat Local Month in September ushers in a statewide celebration of local farms and restaurants just as summer wanes and cooler weather brings new harvest. This year’s celebration in Whatcom County will include a farm tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 13.
Washington state governor Bob Ferguson signed a proclamation declaring this September as Eat Local Month, a celebration that emerged from Bellingham-based nonprofit, Sustainable Connections 14 years ago. Sustainable Connections established its Eat Local First campaign in 2011 to promote local food systems in Whatcom and Skagit counties, which quickly gained statewide support.
The peak harvest of September is, in part, why it was chosen as the time to encourage people to buy from local farms.
“It’s the end of summer season and the start of the fall season,” said Jennifer Gillis, food and farming manager at Sustainable Connections. “If you’ve been to our farmers markets that time of year, they’re most vibrant. We have all the tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. We’re starting to have some of the fall fruits, squashes and pumpkins.”
The free, self-guided Whatcom County Farm Tour has 15 locations where farmers will show off their specialties. The tour will provide attendees an opportunity to see how their favorite goods – from flowers to meats and cheeses – make their way to their homes. Northwest Whatcom County farms on the tour include Fair Cow’s Path Farm, 4186 Loomis Trail Road in Blaine; Five Elements Harvest, 9498 Stein Road in Custer; Grace Harbor Farms and Steensma Creamery, 2347 Birch Bay-Lynden Road in Custer; and Widnor Farms, 1858 W. Badger Road in Custer.
Food trucks will be dotted throughout the farms, selling local eats as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
In addition to the farm tour, Sustainable Connections will host a Sandwich Showdown all month. The participating restaurants, including The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro in Blaine, will sell sandwiches with local ingredients. Consumers will then upload their receipts to the Eat Local First website and vote on their favorite sandwiches. Participants will receive weekly prizes and the winning restaurant will be awarded at the end of the month.
“We’re hoping to eat for the future, too,” Gillis said. “We want farming land to stay viable here in Whatcom County.”
More information on Eat Local Month and the Whatcom Farm Tour can be found at eatlocalfirst.org/eat-local-month.
