Celebrate Ohio’s cornucopia of great local foods during the second annual Ohio Local Foods Week, Aug. 7-13, sponsored by Ohio State University Extension.

Organized events are planned in communities throughout the state and are listed at localfoods.osu.edu/find-event. One opportunity to participate is by taking the $10 Ohio Local Foods Challenge. Organizers are encouraging Ohioans to pledge to spend at least $10 on local foods during the week. Sign up at localfoods.osu.edu/ohio-local-foods-week/take-challenge. Last year, 225 people pledged to spend $3,820 on local foods during the challenge. It was the first year for the event, and organizers hope to surpass that amount this year.

Celebrate Ohio Local Foods Week, Aug. 7-13

“We are blessed here in Ohio with an abundance of locally grown and produced items,” says Heather Neikirk, OSU Extension educator and co-leader of Extension’s Local Foods Signature Program. “We have peaches and apples and sweet corn, and of course milk and yogurt and ice cream, and even craft beers and Ohio wines. There’s so much available now and throughout the season. We really want to take the week to showcase all of the different products available and celebrate local foods.”

But whether or not there’s a planned event nearby, anyone can participate in a number of ways including:

Young people are also being encouraged to get involved, Neikirk saiys. Since last year, OSU Extension has trained 36 teenagers involved in 4-H as peer educators on local foods, and they have already organized awareness programs reaching more than 240 young people.

More information on Ohio Local Foods Week, including ways for local businesses and families to get involved, is online at localfoods.osu.edu/ohio-local-foods-week.