Wanted: St. Croix River Eateries for
Special 1-Day Culinary Event

CONTACT: Dana Jackson LSP, 651-653-0618

7/25/08
WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — Restaurants in the St. Croix River Valley are invited to take part in a special one-day culinary celebration of good, local food this fall. During the “Dine Fresh Dine Local” event, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 11, Minnesota and Wisconsin eateries along the St. Croix River will feature menu items with ingredients sourced from Valley growers and processors. Food service providers in hospitals, nursing homes and schools are also invited to celebrate by serving local food on Sept. 11.

In 2005, the last time a Dine Fresh Dine Local event was held in the Twin Cities region, 16 restaurants and over 200 dining parties in Minneapolis/St. Paul participated. Now it’s the St. Croix River Valley’s turn to highlight its local food and farming system.

During the Sept. 11 event, participating restaurants and institutions will be recognized for their support of local farmers, and diners will be provided information on the benefits of local food and ways they can support such a system. Diners will also have the opportunity to register for a drawing and win prizes such as discount coupons for future meals, Buy Fresh Buy Local bags and aprons, books by Renewing the Countryside and other items. Participating restaurants will become Buy Fresh Buy Local Partners and continue to benefit from local food promotions following the event.

“Our vibrant local food system is just one more element that makes the St. Croix River Valley region unique,” said Dana Jackson, who coordinates the local chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local. “Dine Fresh Dine Local is a great opportunity for restaurants to highlight what a great resource we have in the form of a vast variety of farm fresh food.”

This event is co-sponsored by the St. Croix River Valley Buy Fresh BuyLocal chapter (a program hosted by the Land Stewardship Project), the River Market Community Co-op, Renewing the Countryside and the St. Croix Scenic Byway.

For information on how to participate in the Dine Fresh Dine Local event, contact Jackson at the Land Stewardship Project’s White Bear office by calling 651-653-0618 or e-mailing danaj@landstewardshipproject.org. More information is also available at www.dinefreshdinelocal.com.

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