Sara Berman and Squash Blossom Farm provide locally grown produce through December.

PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The fifth annual Wood River Valley Locally Grown Guide is now available at locations throughout the Valley. The free Guide, a publication of Local Food Alliance, a Sun Valley Institute for Resilience program, invites everyone to experience the farms, food businesses, and organizations that create the distinctive flavor of our community. Find the Guide at Sun Valley Source magazine racks and also showcased at various local businesses. 

Since its initial publication in 2020, the number of local food businesses and organizations listed in the Guide has more than doubled, now with over 140 individual listings. Beyond shining a spotlight on businesses committed to producing and using local food, the Guide serves as a valuable resource for consumers, offering insights such as a seasonal eating chart, composting tips, and recipes to minimize food waste.  

In addition to the printed format available at Sun Valley Source magazine racks and select businesses, the Locally Grown Guide is accessible online in both English and Spanish at locallygrownguide.org. This mobile-friendly platform ensures that everyone can connect with local food producers and businesses, wherever they are.   

Amy Mattias, Executive Director of the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience, emphasizes the guide's role as a gateway to the regional food system. “In the five years that we have been publishing the guide, hundreds of connections between producers and consumers have been made and thousands of conversations have been sparked. The regional food movement is gaining momentum, and the Guide is a driving force behind it,” she said. 

The Locally Grown Guide is a community resource, freely available to all Wood River Valley residents and visitors. Any business or organization that produces or utilizes locally grown products can be listed at no cost. Printed copies of the Guide and locallygrownguide.org are free and accessible to every community member.  

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive local food information to every member of the Wood River Valley community,” said Mike Gordon, the Institute’s Communications Manager. “Locally Grown Guide sponsors have stepped up to make sure that this resource remains free for both listed businesses and local food seekers.” 

The Locally Grown Guide is made possible with generous sponsorships from local businesses and the support of individual donors. A special mention to Atkinsons’ Market and Sun Valley Culinary Institute for their Sower level support of the 2024 Locally Grown Guide. Additional funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service has further supported its creation. 

For those seeking instant access, the Guide is available through the user-friendly website https://locallygrownguide.org