Just in time for the holidays, Loudoun agricultural groups and rural businesses have launched a new campaign to encourage shoppers to spend their dollars locally. “Celebrate Loudoun!” kicks off in conjunction with the opening of the Leesburg Winter Farmers Market on Saturday, November 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Virginia Village Shopping Center, Catoctin Circle. Leesburg’s First Friday, held on December 5, will also feature local foods, wines, gifts and artwork. Here’s the skinny on Celebrate Loudoun! from Loudoun’s Department of Economic Development:

If each household in Northern Virginia spent $10 a week of their total food bill on fresh local produce and farm-based Virginia products, those purchases would result in $48,554,480 in support for Loudoun County’s economy and $555 million dollars a year in Northern Virginia, according to a study recently released by Matt Benson and Eric Bendfeldt, Virginia Cooperative Extension community viability specialists.

Celebrate Loudoun! invites farmers, producers and artists who have locally produced food, wine, gift items and artwork to participate in the special events or work with local businesses to consign items. Additional Celebrate Loudoun! information is available at www.LoudounFarms.org, info@LoudounFarms.org (Celebrate Loudoun! in the subject line) or 703-777-0426.