Deluzio Joins Local Chefs for Conversation with Western PA Restaurants, Small Businesses, Farmers

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) helped lead a roundtable conversation focused on today’s challenges facing Western Pennsylvania restaurants, small businesses—with a focus on extreme weather. Held in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District at Chengdu Gourmet in Ross Township, event attendees included State Senator Lindsay Williams, State Representative Emily Kinkaid, farmers, restaurant owners and chefs from Western Pennsylvania and beyond, sustainability and tourism organizations, Casa San Jose, and others.  

“Restaurant workers and small business owners give our communities so much—so it was great to hear from them about challenges in the restaurant industry and agriculture sector,” said Congressman Deluzio. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the impact of extreme weather events on our food, farms, and small businesses.” 

Agriculture is a major part of Pennsylvania’s economy, contributing about $132 billion each year and supporting nearly 600,000 jobs across the Commonwealth. Top agricultural products in the state include milk and other dairy products, chicken eggs, meat chickens, corn, cattle and calves, mushrooms, and other crops. 

The National Restaurant Association estimates that Pennsylvania’s eating and drinking places generated around $50 billion in direct economic output in 2025, supporting 500,000+ jobs and delivering about $16.3 billion in labor income to workers in the Commonwealth. Independent restaurants are key to Western Pennsylvania’s regional economy—employing around 79,000 people. When this economic activity is disrupted by extreme weather, the impacts ripple through small businesses, producers, jobs, and the community’s economy. 

Photos from Congressman Deluzio’s event at Chengdu Gourmet are available here.

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