I’m very fortunate that where I live in the Philadelphia suburbs, it’s no more than a 10-minute walk or drive to major supermarkets, neighborhood food markets, and, from May to November, a robust farmers market.

But hundreds of communities across the state simply don’t have that kind of access to fresh food and groceries.

Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in agricultural production. Yet despite this abundance, many people in both urban and rural Pennsylvania must travel miles to reach the nearest grocery store.

These areas are often called “food deserts”—though because deserts are natural phenomena, many advocates and researchers prefer other terms, such as “food apartheid,” which better conveys that policy decisions and long-standing inequalities have shaped where fresh food is and isn’t available.

In this story, we take a look at how the lack of food access in some parts of Pennsylvania is impacting communities, and the efforts of advocates across the state to ensure that everyone can enjoy fresh, nutritious food.

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Inspired by this story about Pennsylvania stereotypes that kind of ring true, we asked you to: 

Tell us you’re from Pennsylvania without telling us you’re from Pennsylvania.

Take it away, Pennsylvanians… 

“I know the answers to the ‘Jeopardy’ questions that refer to Groundhog Day.”

— Roxanne, Punxsutawney

“When I need a bottle of Wild Turkey rye to make my old fashioneds, I have to go to a government monopoly known as a state store.”

— Steve R., Erie

“Hey yinz guys, d’jeet jet?”

— Toni H., Pittsburgh 

“I refer to pizza pies as ‘trays’ and slices as ‘cuts.’”

— Stanley, Luzerne County

“I call them gobs, not whoopie pies.”

— Alice T., Johnstown

“I’ve lost a tire to a pothole and hit a deer.”

— C.J., Elizabethtown

Tell us you’re from Pennsylvania without telling us you’re from Pennsylvania, and please let us know where you live.

A dog jumps off a dock during a canine aquatics competition; full stands of onlookers watch dogs compete to jump the farthest. (Shutterstock)

Lititz celebrates a vibrant local food scene, while the American Kennel Club is presenting a dog show in Philly, and Latrobe honors its favorite son, Mister Rogers, with a multi-day festival.

All that and more is happening in Pa. this weekend. Check it out:

Taste of Lititz – Friday (Lancaster County)

From pierogi and pizza, to spirits and beer, to Greek and Mexican, to baked goods and Wilbur Chocolates, Taste of Lititz is like a block party with an unbeatable menu that truly has something for any taste. Nearly 30 local restaurants, bakeries, distilleries, and more will be on hand from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Lititz to offer a true taste of this quaint Lancaster County town.

Longwood Gardens’ Festival of Fountains – Through Sept. 27 (Chester County)

You have until late September to take in the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens, but why wait until then? The temps will feel summerlike but not scorchingly so this weekend in Kennett Square, the perfect setting for strolling through the beautiful gardens as the sun sets while waiting for the illuminated fountains to shimmer beneath the stars. 

Mister Rogers Family Days – Through Saturday (Latrobe)

“America’s favorite neighbor,” Fred Rogers, is remembered in the western Pennsylvania neighborhood where his own story began with the 10th annual Mister Rogers Family Days. On Friday, Joe Wos, the Emmy Award-winning host of the PBS show “Cartoon Academy,” will host a live cartoon illustration at the Latrobe Art Center. Saturday features meet-and-greets with Mr. McFeely (David Newell) from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” an appearance by the Neighborhood Trolley, pony rides and hayrides, an inflatable obstacle course, and more.

National Street Rod Association’s Street Rod Nationals East – Friday through Sunday, York

For vintage car enthusiasts, York is the place to be this weekend for the National Street Rod Association’s Street Rod Nationals East. Spectators can get an up-close look at the hundreds of vehicles inside the York Expo Center, while the annual Street Rod Parade will make its way through downtown York beginning at noon on Friday. The event also includes a swap meet with vintage parts, rare accessories, and unique automotive memorabilia, a best beard contest, and more.

American Kennel Club Celebrates USA 250 – Friday through Sunday, Philadelphia

Here’s a fun way to say Happy Birthday, America: The America Kennel Club Celebrates USA 250 at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard, a three-day festival of canine sports and family-friendly fun. The event features diving dogs and agility competitions, rare dog breeds, interactive activities, food trucks, and more, all in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

• All 11 electric companies that provide service to Pennsylvania’s households and businesses have raised their rates ahead of summer. Find out what kind of increases you can expect to see on your bill in this story.

• Pennsylvania Democrats believe a digital advertising tax could help close the commonwealth’s $5.6 billion budget gap. Get details on their plan here.

• A universal bell-to-bell ban on cellphone use in Pennsylvania schools is one step closer to becoming a reality. Find out where things stand in this story.

The Big Boy No. 4014 will be making stops across Pennsylvania from June 9 through July 11. (USA Today Network via Reuters Connect).

The world’s largest operating steam locomotive is about to travel throughout Pennsylvania for the first time as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration. The Union Pacific train, known as Big Boy No. 4014, is among eight of its kind in existence and the only one still in operation, according to Union Pacific.

It will traverse 23 states within Union Pacific’s railway network, first stopping in North East, in Erie County, on June 9. Big Boy No. 4014 makes its last Pa. stop on July 11 in Leetsdale, in Allegheny County. Along the way, the train stops in Philadelphia July 4-5 for a Fourth of July celebration. 

Find out where else in the commonwealth you can see the ‘Big Boy’ in this story.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Kalena Thomhave, Sean Kitchen, and USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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