Eat, Road Trip and Win During the 4th Annual Going Local Week! [CONTEST]

Share your GOING LOCAL experience, favorite food or most creative cuisine on the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Facebook page. Be sure to become a fan and then click the Contest link to see how you can enter for the day’s contest. Winners will be chosen by a random draw of all entries following that particular day’s theme. For each day of GOING LOCAL WEEK, one lucky winner will be chosen.

Try some of these ideas so you can “GO LOCO by GOING LOCAL”!

Idea #1: Do some of your weekly shopping at local farmers’ markets, farm stands, and farm markets.  Last year, ISDA’s Annie Schmelzer and Amy Eizinger took a “road trip” – or should we say a “hoof trip” – over to the Indianapolis City Market and found incredible corn ready for roasting.

Idea #2: Apples are in-season! Replace the office morning donuts. Apples are half the calories and have twice the natural sugar, (so you’ll have plenty of “brain food” to meet that deadline). An average large apple has merely 116 calories, less than one gram of fat and 30 carbohydrates. An apple turnover has an average of 270 calories, 13 grams of fat – literally 13 times more fat than an apple and only HALF the sugar content (half the brain food and twice the guilt!)  Not only does an apple keep the doctor away but your therapist and personal trainer!

Idea #3: Stir-Up an office potluck lunch where everyone brings in something they’ve made with a local ingredient. Last year ISDA organized a little shin-dig and it was a lot of fun and tasty too! Need recipe ideas? Try branching out with these fall recipes from the GOING LOCAL site.

Idea #4: Kick back, relax and enjoy a trip to any of Indiana’s 61 wineries!

Now through October you could even take your spouse/significant other out for an evening on the water while tasting wines paired with hors d’oeuvres and desserts on the Patoka Lake Sunset Wine Cruise.  Who said GOING LOCAL couldn’t be romantic?

Idea #5: Hit the road and show your kids where their food really comes from – and not just the grocery section of Target! Kids can run around, have fun (and don’t tell them, but they might learn something!) You can find an orchard or u-pick farm on the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Agritourism and Farmers’ Market Online Directory.

Want more information?

The GOING LOCAL site has plenty of additional information about Indiana food and producers, listings of local food events, farm tours, as well as additional recipes featuring Indiana’s fresh, local, and in-season foods.

Don’t forget to enter and good luck!

Here are the daily themes. Remember to ‘like’ the ISDA Facebook page and click here to enter the contest.:

9/4: Stepping out Sunday – Send us a photo from something outdoor and local, going to an orchard, picking something from your garden, etc.
Prizes: Two (2) White River State Park Pass booklets including admission to the Indianapolis Zoo & White River Gardens, the Indiana State Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, the Eiteljorg Museum and the IMAX theater at the Indiana State Museum as well as discounts on other attractions at the park

9/5: Market Monday – Mention anything about an Indiana farmers’ market!
Prizes: Indiana Artisan gift basket

9/6: Tasty Tuesday – Submit a recipe or link your recipe blog post with at least three local ingredients
Prizes: Indiana Artisan gift basket

9/7: Wordless Wednesday – Submit a photo of a LOCAL Party. Get your friends or co-workers together for a picnic, pitch-in or dinner with favorite local dishes
Prizes:  Four (4) tickets to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

9/8: Thank You Thursday: Shout out to your local farmer or producer.
Prize: Amazing Maize: The Science, History and Culture of Corn prize pack from the Indiana State Museum

9/9: Feature Friday: Hoosier growers and producers – promote your product! If you have a garden, raise cattle, grow corn, etc., show us what you are growing!
Prizes: Gift certificate for one overnight stay a the Hampton Inn Downtown Indianapolis

9/10: Sizzling Saturday – Show off your grilling skills with a recipe or photo. Grill your local meat, fruit or veggies!
Prizes: Indiana Artisan gift basket