Local Harvest: Taste of the Town Features Restaurants & Local Farmers in Madison

From pizza with the kids to an exquisite meal celebrating a special occasion, diners will be treated this fall to three days of local foods at restaurants during REAP Food Group's Local Harvest: A Taste of the Town, October 13th-15th. Local Harvest is a seasonal celebration of local foods and the chefs who turn local ingredients into great meals. Ten participating restaurants will create unique, flavorful specialties to show diners how they incorporate local foods into a delicious menu.

A seasonal event, Local Harvest is a perfect opportunity to try out one of your neighborhood restaurants that purchase from local farmers. "Many of our participating restaurants consider Local Harvest their favorite event because they have the opportunity to be creative with their menu and share that with their diners," says Buy Fresh Buy Local program coordinator Maria Davis. In turn, the success of Local Harvest demonstrates to chefs how strong the demand is for fresh, locally grown foods.

Local Harvest is not just an opportunity to savor Southern Wisconsin's seasonal bounty; diners are contributing to building a more sustainable food system by supporting local establishments that buy locally. Participating restaurants donate a portion of the proceeds to REAP Food Group's Buy Fresh Buy Local program (BFBL). BFBL Southern Wisconsin is a program of REAP (Research, Education, Action and Policy) Food Group, a Madison based nonprofit organization that is promoting a more healthful, just, and both environmentally and economically sustainable food system.

Restaurants participating in this Fall's edition of Local Harvest include: Greenbush Bar, Beans 'n Cream Coffeehouse, L'Etoile, The Washington Hotel Coffee Room, The Weary Traveler, Crema Café, Dayton Street Grille, Lombardino's, Sardine and The Dardanelles Restaurant.

More information about REAP Food Group and its Buy Fresh Buy Local Program are available at www.reapfoodgroup.org.