I’m impressed. The amount of enthusiasm for local foods in this 100-Mile community is amazing. Check out some of the blogs that we've linked to in the right margin! These are 100-Mile-Challengers who are offering recipes, menus, and local eating tips to whomever is reading. For example, Marc Sargent has a recipe for ketchup (anyone else out there missing sauces?).

The number of participants emailing us with their suggestions is also high. Below are a few of the suggestions that arrived in my inbox recently.

Leanne Brum had this suggestion about her weekend find:

This past Saturday, my husband and I made a trip to Sussman's in Arthur. The ladies there recommended a lovely spot for lunch. Shepherd's Watch 100 Mile Market is a unique shop that features all local products including meat, artisan sheep cheese (their own), baked goods, grains, pastas, vegetables, fruits and well as local crafts. We had an amazing lunch on their front porch and left with a big bag of stuff.

As part of a day trip to Elora, this would make a wonderful stop for anyone looking for a something special.

If you would like to reach them, their e-mail address is sauve@wrightman.ca and they are located at 211 Smith St., Arthur. Lynda and Carol were extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

We thought the 100 Mile Club would appreciate this information.

Heather McDiarmid noticed this CBC article today on five Sobey’s grocery stores that decided to form an independent grocery store co-op because they found Sobey’s purchasing policies too restrictive and wanted to offer more local produce. Unfortunately none of them are in KW.

If you check out that article, watch the video on Canadian wines that is offered in the margin. The story is pointing out how so many Canadian wines are “cellared” in Canada, but grown with imported grapes.

Participant Michelle Herrle had this to offer about her store:

It may be helpful information to let 100 Milers know that at Herrle's Country Farm Market, we also have all of our 100 Mile produce and products identified with Buy Local Buy Fresh stickers that say the name of the town where it was grown/comes from. We have been doing this for a couple of years now.

And Almut Pfenning also contacted us. Here is what she said:

Recently, we read about your local initiative to inspire people to pursue the 100 mile diet. We here at a href="http://www.pfenningsorganic.com" title="Pfenning's Organic & More">Pfenning's Organic & More are aware of the challenges involved, since we have been proponents of eating locally grown foods, especially organic, f Perhaps it may be of interest to your participants to learn that Pfenning's are a notable source of local organic food and local production. We may also be able to raise awareness of what truly qualifies as "local," or what merely bears that label.

Thanks everyone!