Shopping Local with PA Preferred

Hello my lovers of Pittsburgh & shopping local!!! I am here to tell you about a program you might not know about that makes it super easy to find local agricultural goodies of all kinds – the PA Preferred program! For those who have never heard of PA Preferred or those of you who have seen this label but might not know what it means, let’s break it down 👏🏼 

PA Preferred is your guide for finding goods grown & processed in Pennsylvania (think different fruits, veggies, milks, meats, etc.). Not only are these goods incredibly fresh, but because they all come from PA farms, you are supporting our community & boosting the local economy – my fave!! You may be thinking, “But Francesca I live in the city far away from rural farms”, FEAR NOT FRIENDS! While you can absolutely travel to the more rural places that sell their goods directly, you don’t need to travel far to get your hands on some PA Preferred goodies. Believe it or not, there are a bunch of products that are carried by local grocery stores, especially in the city!

One of my personal favorite products that comes with the PA Preferred checkmark is Goat Rodeo cheese, available right in the Strip District at Penn Mac, a Pittsburgh staple. I first tasted Goat Rodeo cheese two years ago when I got a container of their fresh chèvre & my life would be forever changed. Ok, I know I’m dramatic, but seriously this cheese was AMAZING. Since then, I’ve also tried their bamboozle, more cowbell & hootenanny cheeses which were all MAJOR hits for me & my friends. And of course, any night that involves cheese will also involve wine when I’m hosting! Another local PA Preferred business that is conveniently located right across the street from Penn Mac in the Strip District is R Cellars Wine. Talk about kismet??! In one quick trip to the Strip, you can grab a few bottles of R Cellars Wine & some Goat Rodeo cheese for your next gathering. 

If wine & cheese aren’t your jam, that’s also totally fine because there is no shortage of products that have the PA Preferred check! One local to Pittsburgh PA Preferred farm is GetBlok Farms. Located in Aliquippa, GetBlok is your spot for all things herbs & lettuce. They have arugula, butterhead, green leaf, kale, romaine, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage – the list goes on! This is another business that makes it easy to get your hands on their fresh veggies & herbs. Choose between online delivery, pickup at headquarters in Aliquippa, pickup in the Strip District at their “Veggie Vault” refrigerated locker, or picking up on Saturdays during the Strip District Market at the Terminal. 

I could truly go on & on listing out businesses & farms in the PA Preferred program, but instead, browse for yourself! Their online tool makes it easy to either search based on the type of good you’re interested in, or by location. Some other shoutouts to western PA members of the PA Preferred program include Arsenal Cider, Acorn Hollow Farm, Lengel Brothers Farm, Harvest Valley Farms & Monroeville Lions Farmer’s Market. If you’re a farmer, processor, retailer, restaurant, or supporting organization interested in becoming a member of the PA Preferred program & gaining that coveted yellow & blue checkbox, apply here! It’s free to become a member, just be sure you meet the eligibility requirements. If you aren’t sure if your business meets the requirements, give the PA Preferred team a call at 717-787-6901 to discuss eligibility. Ok friends, now keep shopping local and find a farmer near you at papreferred.com!