Farmland is one of the top draws for visitors to Lancaster County, and locally sourced fresh ingredients are part of what makes area dining so special.

Discover Lancaster, the official Destination Marketing Organization for Lancaster County, has teamed up with Lancaster Farmland Trust to create a new event – Lancaster County Restaurant Week – that is being held this week, through Sunday, Oct. 31. The goal is to raise awareness among locals and visitors about the importance of preserving the county’s farms, as well as support its restaurant industry as it continues to build back.

All proceeds from restaurant sign-ups will be donated to Lancaster Farmland Trust to help further its mission of preserving as much county farmland as possible. Also, participating restaurants are encouraged to highlight a local farm partnership and/or create a special offer that either spotlights local ingredients or donates a certain additional amount to Lancaster Farmland Trust.

“Our inaugural Lancaster County Restaurant Week is a delicious way for folks to help sustain what we all love about Lancaster,” said Discover Lancaster President Edward Harris. “Dining in, ordering takeout, purchasing a gift card, or donating to Lancaster Farmland Trust directly during the week will both aid in preserving our farmland and support our fantastic local restaurants.”

“We are grateful to be partnering with Discover Lancaster for Lancaster County Restaurant Week,” said Jeff Swinehart, Lancaster Farmland Trust’s Chief Operating Officer. “The natural connection between the food and the land is evident in what is so wonderful about Lancaster County. Our farms have some of the most productive agricultural soils in the world, supplying our diverse food culture with an abundance of fresh, local products. Food is one of many reasons why preserving our farmland is so essential. Once the land is gone, we can’t get it back.” 

Discover Lancaster is also providing participating restaurants with a promotional tool kit – for use with e-blasts, social media, and onsite posters – to help spread the word and raise the profile of the issue.

Learn more about Lancaster County Restaurant Week.