When your central PA town is too small to get the attention of Wegmans, or Giant, or Weis, it's time for a local hero: the independent grocer!

Rural Pennsylvanians need to eat too, and we like variety just as much as city-dwellers. Luckily, just like with craft brewers, and small butchers, independent grocers can often deliver stuff that bigger supermarkets can't. Local stuff that's too small to work with the big guys, the delicious favorites that the big guys don't understand (pepper slaw? Pickled quail eggs? Ham salad!!), and fresh-as-this-morning local produce!

I interviewed two local grocers: Russ Burkholder, of Burkholder's Country Market right here in Millheim, and Lindsay Hutchinson, who runs People's Provisions, in Elliotsburg. Burkholder's has made local a mission, and Russ has some great insights on how an independent stays afloat. Lindsay has a very special idea at People's Provisions, about fostering community with food in central Perry County. You'll want to visit both places -- and your local grocer -- when you're done listening. 

I cooked with some provisions I got at Burkholders, mixed with vegetables from a friend's garden, and I'll tell you about that; lots of hot peppers and corn and cheese! 

What else? The Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest collaboration beer is What I'm Drinking Today, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about finding the blazingly fresh locally-grown food that's bursting out of Centre County fields right now. I'm also going to be taping new episodes of What's Brewing PA with Glen Macnow next month, and I give you a heads up on what's coming there. 

Next episode? After almost three years, I finally have an episode about Pennsylvania wineries! I got a bottle of Traminette, and it intrigued me, and I just kept digging till I came up with a story.   

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

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Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.