Utica Vegan (IG: UticaVegan) was started by a small group of friends that have long yearned for more vegan and vegetarian options in the Utica/Rome area. With no vegetarian restaurants within many miles, we decided to start a community page and post about the restaurants and grocery stores that have a good selection of plant-based foods. We also share vegan related news, new products, and our favorite recipes to encourage everyone to eat better for themselves, animals, and the environment. Quickly the people of Central New York showed strong interest and support in the struggle to find, post, and share with us, making the Utica Vegan page a community and not just one person.