March 2019 Eat Local Lee Maps Released Throughout Lee County

The Eat Local Lee Maps have been printed and distributed throughout Lee County and can be found at area hotels, tourism kiosks, the Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau and participating farms, markets and breweries.  Look for Eat Local Lee at various events including ECHO's Global Food and Farm Festival in March, farmers markets around town and the LCVCB Travel Rally in May.

January 2019 New Maps Coming Soon!

Eat Local Lee has teamed up with Priority Marketing to update the latest version of the map with new features and listings! Look for maps to appear at local hotels, tourism kiosks, chamber locations and participating farms and breweries in late February 2019.

November  2018  Eat Local Lee Wins    Chrysalis Award

LEE COUNTY, FL – The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce honored six local individuals and businesses who positively influence Lee County. They received Chrysalis Awards today at the Celebration of Business & Tourism Awards Luncheon and Trade Show at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village with IBERIABANK as the presenting sponsor.

The event prior to National Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12, celebrates the successful collaboration between tourism and the community to maintain and enhance tourism as the major economic engine for Lee County. 

“These are the MVPs of tourism and business in Lee County,” said Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, chairman of the Lee Board of County Commissioners as well as the Tourist Development Council. “Their commitment to excellence goes a long way toward benefiting our community and our citizens.”

The 2018 Chrysalis honorees celebrated for their positive impact on the local community were:

• Business Development: Sanibel Captiva Community Bank 

• Cultural Achievement: Alliance for the Arts

• Eco-Innovation: CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife)

• Education: The Laboratory Theater of Florida

• Sales & Marketing: HelloSWFL

• Business Tourism Leader: Courtney Fraser/Eat Local Lee

The 19 businesses and four individuals nominated for Chrysalis Awards were judged on innovation in their respective category. The judges also focused on how the nominees distinguished themselves in the community, the results of their efforts to promote the destination and their contributions to business and tourism partnerships for the overall benefit of the county.

Honorees were recognized for their commitment to excellence in improving community growth and creating job opportunities for the citizens of Lee County. The awards event was attended by members of the local business and tourism community. Tourism brings an estimated $3 billion annually into the local economy and accounts for one in five jobs in Lee County.

October 2018 - Eat Local Lee Awarded 2nd Attractions Grant

Eat Local Lee, a division of ICARE (The Institute for Culinary Awareness, Research & Education) has been awarded an attractions grant through the Tourism Development Council. The grant will provide funding to re-design and print a free map listing all of the farms, farmers markets, craft beverage & honey producers in Lee County, Florida.