More Than a Market: Why Local Food Matters to Our Community

More Than a Market: Why Local Food Matters to Our Community

A farmers market is more than a place to buy tomatoes.

It is a place where farmers meet the people who eat the food they grow. It is where neighbors connect, local businesses build relationships, and fresh food becomes part of the community.

When we talk about a strong local food system, we are talking about all of these connections.

Local Food Starts With Access

Eating locally should not be about finding the perfect recipe or making a special trip every week. At its heart, local food is about having opportunities to access fresh, nutritious food and knowing where that food comes from.

Across North Carolina, programs such as the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program help connect eligible families with locally grown fruits and vegetables while providing additional support to participating farmers.

Food access can look different for everyone. It might mean being able to use nutrition benefits at a farmers market, finding a market close to home, having access to affordable fresh produce, or simply knowing where to turn when you want to buy food grown by your neighbors.

A strong local food system works toward making those connections easier.

When You Buy Local, You're Supporting More Than a Farm

When you purchase a tomato from a local farmer, you're not just buying a tomato.

You're supporting the person who planted the seed, cared for the crop, harvested it, and brought it to market.

You're also helping keep food dollars circulating closer to home and contributing to the network of farmers, markets, food businesses, community organizations, and consumers that make up our local food system.

That network matters.

Local food systems can contribute to community economic development, health, environmental sustainability, and stronger relationships between producers and consumers.

And sometimes, supporting that system can be as simple as choosing one locally grown ingredient for dinner.

Put Local Food on Your Plate

August is one of the best times of year to let local produce do the work.

Tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, peppers, and fresh herbs are showing up at markets and farm stands throughout the season. You don't need a complicated recipe to enjoy them.

Creamy Homemade Ranch Dressing with Homeland Creamery Whole Milk

Creamy Homemade Ranch Dressing with Homeland Creamery Whole Milk

There’s nothing quite like homemade ranch dressing. Fresh, creamy, and packed with flavor, it’s a simple recipe that tastes far better than anything you’ll find on the grocery store shelf. The secret is starting with quality ingredients—especially Homeland Creamery Whole Milk.

Its rich, creamy texture gives this homemade ranch the perfect consistency and a delicious farm-fresh flavor. It’s perfect for salads, fresh vegetables, sandwiches, wings, pizza, and so much more.

Start with Fresh, Local Ingredients

This recipe begins with homemade mayonnaise made using a whole egg. You can pick up farm-fresh eggs from Piedmont Fresh to create a creamy, flavorful mayo from scratch.

Once your mayo is ready, combine it with Homeland Creamery Whole Milk, herbs, and seasonings to make an easy homemade ranch dressing the whole family will love.

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

For the Homemade Mayo

• 1 large egg, at room temperature

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup neutral oil, such as sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil

For the Ranch

• 1 cup homemade mayonnaise

• ½ cup Homeland Creamery Whole Milk or Buttermilk

• ¼ cup sour cream, optional for extra richness

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, or 1 teaspoon dried dill

• 1 teaspoon chopped chives

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1: Make the Homemade Mayo

Add the egg, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt to a tall jar. Pour the oil over the ingredients.

Place an immersion blender at the bottom of the jar and blend without moving it for about 15 to 20 seconds. Once the mixture begins to thicken, slowly lift the blender upward until the mayonnaise is smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Make the Ranch

In a bowl, whisk together the homemade mayonnaise, Homeland Creamery Whole Milk, and sour cream until smooth.

Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, dill, chives, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. For a thinner, more pourable dressing, add another splash of Homeland Creamery Whole Milk.

Cover and refrigerate the ranch for at least 30 minutes before serving to give the herbs and seasonings time to blend.

Delicious Ways to Enjoy It

Serve your homemade ranch with fresh garden salads, vegetable trays, chicken wings, tenders, fries, sandwiches, or delicious wraps.

Find the Fresh Ingredients at Piedmont Fresh

Great homemade recipes begin with great ingredients. Shop Piedmont Fresh for Homeland Creamery Whole Milk, farm-fresh eggs, and other locally sourced favorites to make this creamy ranch dressing right in your own kitchen.

Farm Fresh Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza

Farm Fresh Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza

This 30-minute Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza brings your favorite takeout flavors home with a local twist. Made with ingredients from Piedmont Fresh producers, this homemade pizza features Sunflower Farm chicken, Correll Farms tomatoes and onions, Homeland Creamery whole milk ranch, and Sandy Creek Farm Gouda cheese.

Perfect for Friday night pizza night, game day gatherings, or an easy family dinner, this recipe shows that shopping local can be simple, delicious, and part of your everyday routine.

• Prep Time:

• 15 minutes

• Cook Time:

• 15 minutes

• Total Time:

• 30 minutes

• Serves:

• 4 people

Equipment

• Pizza stone or pizza pan

• Parchment paper

• Baking sheet (optional)

Ingredients

For the Farm Fresh Buffalo Chicken Pizza

▢ 1 prepared pizza crust or 1 pound pizza dough
▢ 2½ cups shredded cooked Sunflower Farm chicken
▢ ½ cup buffalo sauce (plus more for serving)
▢ ⅓ cup ranch dressing made with Homeland Creamery whole milk (plus more for serving)
▢ 2 cups freshly shredded Sandy Creek Farm Gouda cheese
▢ ⅓ cup crumbled Sandy Creek Farm blue cheese (optional)
▢ 2 tablespoons chopped Correll Farms onions

For the Farm Fresh Tomato Sauce

▢ Fresh tomatoes from Correll Farms
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1–2 cloves garlic, minced
▢ Salt and pepper to taste
▢ Italian seasoning (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Oven

Preheat oven to 425°F. If using a pizza stone or pizza pan, place it in the oven while it preheats. A hot pizza surface helps create a crispier crust.

Make Your Farm Fresh Tomato Sauce

Dice fresh Correll Farms tomatoes and cook with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper until softened.

Blend or mash the tomatoes into a simple homemade pizza sauce. Add Italian seasoning if desired.

Prepare the Buffalo Chicken

In a bowl, combine shredded Sunflower Farm chicken with buffalo sauce until evenly coated.

Build Your Pizza

Place pizza crust on parchment paper.

Spread the homemade Correll Farms tomato sauce evenly over the crust.

Top with buffalo chicken, ranch dressing, Sandy Creek Farm Gouda cheese, and chopped Correll Farms onions.

If you enjoy the classic buffalo chicken flavor combination, add Sandy Creek Farm blue cheese as an optional topping.

Bake the Pizza

Carefully transfer the pizza onto your preheated pizza pan or stone.

Bake for 10–15 minutes, until:

• Cheese is melted and bubbly

• Crust is golden and crispy

• Dough is cooked through

Finish with an extra drizzle of ranch and buffalo sauce before serving.

Complete Your Meal: Farm Fresh Side Salad

Make this pizza night a complete local meal by pairing it with a fresh seasonal salad.

🥬 Fresh greens from Anders Family Farm
🍅 Tomatoes from Correll Farms
🧅 Fresh onions from Correll Farms
🥕 Seasonal vegetables available through Piedmont Fresh

Add your favorite homemade dressing and enjoy a fresh side that pairs perfectly with your buffalo chicken pizza.

Recipe Tips

• Prefer a milder pizza? Use less buffalo sauce or skip the blue cheese.

• Any pizza crust works — homemade dough, prepared crust, or refrigerated dough.

• Shred your own cheese for the best melt and texture.

• Fully preheating your pizza stone or pan helps create a crispy crust.

• Add extra local toppings like peppers, seasonal vegetables, or fresh herbs.

Make Your Next Meal Local

Pizza night does not have to come from a delivery box.

With Piedmont Fresh, you can create meals your family already loves while supporting the farmers and producers who make our local food system possible.

Start with one meal. Shop local. Taste the difference.