Celebrating Local Food Initiative

Welcome to the Celebrating Local Food Initiative!

We provide customized, no-cost services to match St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis county businesses with producers in our region, paired with support to market local, high quality foods and beverages.

FREE services are available to participating retailers and restauranteurs:

• One-on-one consultations
• Individualized matchmaking services and events to meet farmers and food producers
• Professional photography, featuring local products at your location
• Customized marketing materials, such as on-site signage
• Direct marketing campaign, encouraging current and potential customers to seek out local products and purchase from these businesses

You're Invited! 

If you are looking to get more involved with buy local initiatives, reach out to be entered into our buyer-producer network and we will help provide ‘matchmaking’ services, getting you connected to the grower that’s right for your business. These no-cost services are available April 2026-September 2027.

Restaurants and retailers who participate in buy local initiatives can receive free marketing materials and custom signage to promote local purchasing options. Templates are displayed below and can be tailored to your business. 

Learn More

The Celebrating Local Food Initiative is part of the Regional Food Business Incubator and complements the Ag and Food Producers Academy. Learn more about the Academy here.

The Regional Food Business Incubator has three main initiatives:

• Providing educational workshop series for farmers and food entrepreneurs.
• Building connections with retailers to improve marketing channels for agricultural businesses.
• Increasing local purchasing options and visibility at the retail level.

From small farms and food entrepreneurs to helping retailers buy local, this program supports every chain in the field-to-fork pipeline. With hands-on education, personalized business guidance, technical assistance, and the cultivation of a buyer-producer network, we aim to reduce barriers to the value-added food industry and help guide products to market.

Last updated April 28, 2026