Finding locally grown food

February 13, 2008|By JULIE E. GREENE

Looking for local food producers so you can buy locally grown food such as produce, meats and dairy products?

During farmers market season, several local producers sell their products at markets such as Washington County Farmers Market at Prime Outlets at Hagerstown or the Shepherdstown (W.Va.) Farmers Market. Several also sell their wares at their farms or through a community-supported agriculture program (CSA) in which members pay a fee and receive a bag or box of produce each week.

During the season, it is easy to spot roadside stands for local farms and orchards. During the off season, it can be a little tougher.

Find local food producers who sell to consumers at www.marylandsbest.net or www.localharvest.org.

Here's a partial list of some producers in the Tri-State area.

· Evensong Farm, south of Sharpsburg. Products include heirloom and unique varieties of vegetables and herbs, eggs, and grass-raised beef and chicken. Products sold through a CSA or at Washington County Farmers Market at Prime Outlets at Hagerstown from May to October. Call Julie Stinar at 301-491-2224 or go to www.evensong-farm.com.

· Legacy Manor Farm, 17758 Bakersville Road south of Fairplay. Products include turkey, chicken, pork, beef and eggs. Call Kathy Ecker at 301-432-0267 or go to LegacyManorFarm.com.

· Stonecrest Farms near Sharpsburg. Products include natural beef by whole, side or quarter or 25- or 50-pound gift boxes that include their Italian beef sausage. Call Brian or Meredith Poffenberger at 301-432-4663.

· Touch the Earth Farm, 11707 Walnut Point Road north of Williamsport. Products are seasonal. Have eggs now. Also will sell free-range poultry, pasture-raised pork and, at Thanksgiving, turkeys. Call Danielle Conger at 301-223-8206 or go to TouchTheEarthFarm.com.

· Blueberry Hill in Clear Spring has a CSA and sells at farmers markets. Currently selling salad mix. Products include blueberries, apples, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, leeks and onions. Call Michael James at 301-842-1191.

· Hurry Burry Farm, 3911 Garfield Road, northeast of Smithsburg. Products include free-range brown eggs and chickens and pasture-raised turkey, pork, sheep and goat, and fiber from the sheep. Call Mindy or Jim Cawley 301-416-0005 or go to www.hurryburry.com.

· Fulton Farm, a CSA at Wilson College's Center for Sustainable Living in Franklin County, Pa. Call 717-264-4141 and ask for the Center for Sustainable Living or go to www.wilson.edu.

· Whispering Brook Cheese Haus, 8875 Edenville Cheesetown Road, west of Chambersburg, Pa. Products include 12 different kinds of natural cheese, including cow- and goat-milk cheese. Call Ed Brechbill 717-369-2355.

· Fresh & Local CSA based in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Call 304-876-3382 or go to www.freshandlocalcsa.com.

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