The annual Pennsylvania Farm Show theme was unveiled Wednesday at the Eat Real Food Mobile Market at Paxinosa Elementary School in Easton.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the theme for the 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show, which runs from Jan. 6 to Jan. 13 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg is Connecting Our Communities.
“The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a living story of Pennsylvania agriculture, connecting those who are fed, nourished, and enriched by our industry to those whose lives and livelihoods depend on it,” Redding said. “Agriculture unites us. It is the food, fuel, and fiber we rely on for our quality of life and our economy. Food helps define our cultures and our identities,”
Redding said the Eat Real Food Mobile Market is a perfect illustration of how the $132.5 billion agriculture industry connects communities and nourishes their futures.
“It’s a fitting backdrop to highlight how the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show will showcase the pride and hard work of farmers from across the state, connecting people from all walks of life to a celebration of the importance of agriculture in our communities,” Redding said.
The Kellyn Foundation’s Eat Real Food Mobile Market visits multiple sites on a regular weekly schedule and includes sampling, nutritional education, and recipes. Eat Real Food provides healthy, local food access at an affordable price, providing opportunities for families to connect with nutritious foods, and bringing communities together around agriculture to provide better outcomes for all, the Department of Agriculture said.
The market grew out of a multi-industry partnership of the Kellyn Foundation, the Bethlehem Area School District, the Lehigh Valley Health Network, Penn State Extension, Rodale Institute, the Bethlehem Food Co-Op, Meals on Wheels and Second Harvest Food Bank.
The Department of Agriculture said these organizations joined forces to support a stronger local food system, ensuring locally grown food production can flourish through the development and expansion of local food infrastructure.
This effort includes farmers, manufacturers, processors, distributors, institutional buyers, neighborhoods and individual consumers, along with the support of governmental, non-profit and for-profit entities.
Together, they are creating jobs, supporting the environment, championing the health of their community, and reducing food insecurity, the department said.
“Visiting the PA Farm Show is like taking a journey through the heart of agriculture, where you’ll connect with the roots of our food, the spirit of our farming communities, and the boundless possibilities for finding your own path in this industry, said Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center Executive Director Sharon Myers. “Whether it is your first visit, or you come every year, the PA Farm Show is the best place to cultivate connections with agriculture.”