Hot treats straight from the oven are as much a part of autumn as falling leaves and chunky sweaters. It's also a time of harvest and fresh, seasonal food.
The Office of Sustainability has developed monthly themes that promote green education and outreach. Sustainable food is November's theme, and the office is incorporating a baking contest to promote it.
"This is the first time an event like this has been hosted and we feel it is a great way for students to become more involved within the local farmers' community and also within the Office of Sustainability," said senior Kristi Jacobsen, an Elon Sustainability intern.
Jacobsen said she hopes the contest will be a success so it can become an annual event.
"Overall, through this contest, we hope to convey the importance and simplicity of buying locally grown food," Jacobsen said. "Buying local food is incredibly important because it helps support the local economy and reduces the amount of fossil fuels burned during transport. Many local farms also sustainably produce their food by avoiding the use of harmful chemicals and genetic modification, so that's another reason to buy from the area."
The competition is open to all Elon University students, faculty, and staff.
To enter, contestants must submit a dish that has been made with an organic ingredient or an ingredient grown locally in North Carolina. The final dish must be photographed and posted on the Elon Sustainability Facebook page or the November Local Baking Contest Facebook event page.
Submissions should include a basic description and details on where the local ingredient came from. Entries can be submitted at any time and winners will be selected Nov. 11, 18 and 30. Each winner will receive a $20 gift card.
There are a wide variety of places to buy locally grown and sustainably grown foods nearby. The Company Shops Market in downtown Burlington offers a great variety of locally produced foods and many of the larger grocery stores also carry local produce. Nearby farmers' markets are Garden Valley Market in Burlington, Greensboro Farmers' Curb market and Piedmont Triad Farmers' Market in Greensboro and State Farmers' Market in Raleigh.
More information about the contest and the Office of Sustainability can be found on the Sustainability at Elon Facebook page.