Grocery plays up regional products

Do you know how to find sour cream made in Jefferson County? Or milk processed in New York?

Local dairy producers will highlight their goods from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Hannaford supermarket, 6304 Arsenal St. The store is featuring dairy items and other locally and regionally produced goods.

Processed dairy goods have codes that show where the product originated. On milk containers, "36" indicates that the milk came from New York dairy farms.

"Most people, including myself, were not aware of where my product went and who it is marketed to," said Michael B. Kiechle, who owns Garden of Eden Dairy Farm in Philadelphia and sits on the board of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau. "If I don't know it, I'm sure 99.9 percent of consumers don't know it."

Mr. Kiechle, like most other dairy farmers, sells his milk through a co-op. His goes through DairyLea to the Great Lakes Cheese plant in Adams.

Great Lakes Cheese's products include sharp and extra sharp cheddar that are packaged under grocery store chains' labels. Hannaford carries New York sharp and extra sharp cheddars that are made in Adams.

"The thing is, you're buying award-winning, high-quality cheese cheaper than a name-brand cheese that may not be as good quality as the store brand," Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator Jay M. Matteson said. "We hope this is the beginning of a strong effort to educate consumers on how easy it is to purchase local dairy products."

Other local dairy farmers produce milk that goes to the Crowley plant in LaFargeville. That plant produces cream cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt and sour cream. The Hannaford brands for some of those products can be made in LaFargeville. The plant's code is "L" or "36-2345."

"We've been a big supporter of the dairy industry. Agriculture is such a big part of our community," said Daniel J. Deon, Hannaford store manager.

Besides dairy products, Hannaford will feature other local and regional foods in the "Close to Home" event. Samples of the following products will be included:

■ Morgia's pasta and pasta sauce, Watertown.

■ Sackets Harbor Brewing Co.'s 1812 beer.

■ North Country Farms honey, maple syrup and pancake mix, Watertown.

■ Gianelli sausage, Syracuse.

■ Alteri's Italian bread, Watertown.

■ Martin's handmade pretzels, Philadelphia.

■ Croghan bologna.

■ Hofmann German franks, Syracuse.

■ Mercer's wine ice cream, Boonville.

■ River Rat cheese curd, Clayton.

"These are items family who visit ask you to send them," Mr. Deon said. "New people in town may never have tried it."

Some dairy representatives and producers of the products will attend to give out samples and answer questions. Throughout the store, regional products are highlighted by Close to Home signs.