To help Northeast consumers choose foods that are not only healthful but also regional and seasonal, Cornell Cooperative Extension offers the new Northeast Regional Food Guide.

Eating locally supports farmers and the local economy, protects natural resources and preserves regional farmland, said Jennifer Wilkins, Ph.D., R.D., senior extension associate in Cornell University's Division of Nutritional Sciences and author of the materials with Jennifer Bokaer- Smith, nutrition graduate student. The complete set of materials includes eight fact sheets and a food guide pyramid on a 19-by-28-inch color poster.

The pyramid features food grown and processed in the Northeast and highlights regional foods by season. The fact sheets focus on the importance of eating seasonally and regionally, list foods by season, offer resources and tips for regional and seasonal cooking, feature ideas for food and nutrition professionals in using the materials and include a quiz to determine how regionally and seasonally one eats.

"In the Northeast, availability of local fruits and vegetables varies during the year, yet consumers can still choose locally-produced foods year round if they know what to look for," Wilkins said. "This guide informs the consumer on how to meet the U.S. Dietary Guidelines with local produce in the warm seasons and regionally-produced stored, dried, frozen or canned foods in the winter."

Buying locally not only supports farmers but helps keep communities economically strong: every dollar spent in a community turns over an average of five times before leaving town, Wilkins pointed out. In addition, the loss of each farm means the loss of three to five other rural jobs.

Intended for consumers, public schools, nutrition educators, nutrition and health clinics, supermarkets, food co-ops, farmers' markets and cafeterias, the materials are available from the Cornell University Resource Center, 7 BTP, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. The set of eight fact sheets (399NRFGFS) are $4.25; the poster and produce list (399NRFGP) are $4.50; the full set of poster, fact sheets and produce list (399NRFGSET) is $8.25. Prices include postage and handling. Copies also may be available at Cooperative Extension offices throughout the Northeast.

EDITORS: Journalists may obtain free review copies by contacting Carol Doolittle at (607) 255-5830, fax (607) 255- 9873.