Eat Local Week takes place Sept. 5 – 12. Participating restaurants will be crafting special local food dishes and include: Cocina Linda; Durango Coffee Co.; Durango Natural Foods; Zia Taqueria; Carver Brewing Co.; Cyprus Café; Cosmopolitan; Guido’s Favorite Foods; Ore House; and the Purple Haze Bar & Grill.

Local Food Dollars may be bought in $2.50 increments and redeemed at these establishments for

local dishes and food products. Although, there’s no money back for using part of the “dollar,” people you can add up $2.50 to cover their local food purchases. Local Food Dollars will be available at the Durango Farmers Market, Evenings on 8th, at participating restaurants, and at Maria’s Bookshop.

Local Food Dollars can also be used as coupons at the register of Durango Natural Foods to pay for select local products. During Eat Local Week, 5 percent of all purchases of these products will go to support Local First.

For information, visit: www.local-first.org

In addition to Eat Local Week activities, the Southwest Colorado Community Foundation will be sponsoring “The Community Taste,” a community dinner featuring local food, on Wed., Sept. 8. The event will be held in conjunction with Evenings on 8th, at 6 p.m. in the Coldwell Banker parking lot. “We are trying to have everything at this dinner be from our community, all locally raised meat and grown produce prepared by local chefs,” said Elizabeth March, event organizer. “There is a fantastic line up of entrees, wine and live music.”

Tickets are $40 and proceeds will benefit the SW Colorado Community Foundation. For tickets or info e-mail Elizabeth@swcommunityfoundation.org.

– Missy Votel