On February 4, 2024, 50 people gathered at St George Parish, Georgetown, Ohio for the 15th Annual Local Foods Seminar. Co-sponsored by the Cincinnati Archdiocesan Southeast St Mary Deanery Catholic Rural Life of the Catholic Social Action Office the purpose of these gatherings is to bring local producers and potential businesses and consumers together to advance local food production in the five county primarily Appalachian area. Presenters included the keynote by the Brown County Ohio State Extension Service which shared the present state of agriculture and its challenges in the state and region. Other presentations included a food truck owner who uses local organic foods, a presentation from an aquaponics operation “Growing Greens Year-Round with Fish and No Soil”, a grass-fed beef operation “Health and Environmental Benefits of Grassfed Beef” and a farm to table initiative begun by an Adams County FFA. There were opportunities for participants to visit display tables of other local producers and value-added operations including honey, beef, turkey, flowers, and soaps and lotions made from cow milk. Catholic Charities Southwest Ohio had a table as they bring food once a month to each of the five counties through their Food For All Program.
Other co-sponsors of the event include The Brown County Ohio State Extension, Adams and Brown County Diabetes Education Coalition, Adams and Brown Community Action Partnership, Brown County and Adams County Food Councils.
