Excerpt From Ocala Style Magazine

Table Talk

Posted October 30, 2017 | Written and Styled by Robin Fannon Photography by John JerniganLocal Food,Local Fun

Laura McCormick

Florida Local Exchange

Laura McCormick, owner of the Florida Local Exchange, brings a youthful vibrancy to downtown Ocala. Originally from Upstate New York, she landed in Ocala in 2009. Since then, she has become increasingly involved in the local food movement in Ocala. 

With a background in sales and marketing, she has combined her previous professional experiences with her newfound love for the local farming community to open a one-of-a-kind store with only local, source-identified Florida products. As an Ocala Main Street Board Member, she is eager to participate in all the developments and activities happening in the city, and as a Crones Cradle Conserve Foundation board member, she is learning all there is to know about natural farming and is ready to help educate everyone else about it, too.

Florida Local Exchange is a group of local producers, suppliers, crafters, consumers, supporters and community providers. When you visit the store, you will find an extensive variety of local food and goodies.

Who is your favorite celebrity chef?

I don’t have a favorite celebrity chef, but I have a favorite local chef: Dimitri Pomakis of Feta Mediterranean Cuisine. He understands what it means to use fresh, seasonal ingredients, and he is always so supportive of the local agricultural community.

What is your go-to dish for entertaining?

I love to make a large salad loaded with all sorts of seasonal veggies and cheese. Depending on the time of year, I will roast everything from squash to beets to cauliflower to toss in and top it with freshly shredded local cheese. We offer several flavors of salad dressings at Florida Local Exchange, but my favorite is some classic Florida olive oil and vinegar and some salt and pepper.

Name three people alive or deceased you would like to have dinner with. My late grandfather, Eleanor Roosevelt and my long-time celebrity crush, Dwayne Johnson, aka “The Rock!”

What is the biggest challenge you face in running your business?

Small farms are not set up to match the efficiency of large-scale distribution systems, and big box grocery stores have made it very difficult for the general public to understand seasonality and availability. I work to inform consumers about the components of our regional agricultural system and what it means for our farm partners to be sustainable, grow responsibly and raise livestock humanely.

Tell us three things you love about Ocala.

I love downtown, I love the people in Ocala and I love the picturesque landscape, open farmland and the majestic oak trees. I love Ocala because amidst all the positive energy and excitement, sometimes you can still find yourself lost in the woods, next to a river, surrounded by complete silence.

View the full article here: Table Talk by Robin Fannon