BY BEN JOHNSON
“When we started selling cheese at the Farmer’s Markets a few years ago, our customers were all ‘foodies.’ We have seen a huge shift in the past couple of years to soccer moms and people who just want better food and are willing to pay a little more to support local producers. That trend is growing every day.”
This is the pitch from Boone Creek Creamery’s Ed Puterbaugh, who’s opened a Kentucky Proud store on Palumbo Drive.
Puterbaugh is spearheading the effort to push Lexingtonians to eat local. “Local foods are better quality, and generally free of all the chemicals that you find in factory made products,” Puterbaugh said. “Once customers taste our cheese and Kentucky Proud products, the difference is obvious.”
Puterbaugh also said the Kentucky Proud Store will carry items found nowhere else in the area.
“I have a special affection for really small, unknown companies, so the store has lots of things that you might not see anywhere else,” Puterbaugh said.
The Kentucky Proud Store will also benefit from business and tours that the cheese-making Boone Creek Creamery draws in. Last month alone, the cheese facility hosted 70 tours.
“We do nine farmer’s markets every weekend and lots of regional shows so we have a great relationship with local producers. Consequently I have a deep appreciation for local food and Kentucky Proud. Because of the tours that come through here, I wanted to offer Kentucky Proud and support those local producers.”
Puterbaugh said the Kentucky Proud Store is just another positive step in strengthening Lexington’s burgeoning local food scene.
The official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for Monday, November 30 at 2 p.m.
The event will begin with a tour of the Boone Creek Creamery cheese making facility followed by a reception featuring Kentucky Proud food items.
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