Frederick Wins Spot on PETA’s ‘Vegan-Friendly Cities’ List

For Immediate Release:
December 14, 2020

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

The results are in for PETA’s 2020 ranking of the Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Small Cities in the U.S., and Frederick’s vibrant vegan scene—including dozens of vegan-friendly restaurants—has landed it the number three spot on the list. In recognition, PETA has sent an award certificate to Mayor Michael O’Connor.

For many years, PETA has named the most vegan-friendly big cities in the U.S. This year, as so many people are migrating to smaller cities in the wake of COVID-19, PETA has shifted its sights, too, and has picked the country’s top 10 most vegan-friendly small towns.

“The small cities on PETA’s list are big hot spots for the delicious animal-friendly cuisine that today’s diners demand,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “Whether you’re looking for a plant-based cooking class, a cheesy vegan pizza, or a little fuel before adopting an animal companion,  Frederick’s got you covered.”

Frederick’s many standout vegan-friendly eateries include K.A.T. Café—an all-vegan eatery that also serves as an adoption center for the cats of Frederick County—and Hippy Chick Hummus, a veritable Eden for vegans that serves up kombucha and hummus-based dishes plus vegan tacos, pizzas, and açaí fruit bowls. Pizza lovers can also patronize Pistarro’s, which is fully stocked with dairy-free cheese and plenty of add-ons, and Pretzel & Pizza Creations, a vegan carb lovers’ dream. For dessert, there’s the Pop Shop, a specialty soda shop offering dairy-free ice cream and milkshakes, and Glory Doughnuts & Diner, which serves up specialty vegan doughnuts and has a full breakfast menu all day. Unique to Frederick is Vegan AF, a catering company that offers private cooking lessons.

The number of vegan Americans has increased by 600% in just three years, according to research firm GlobalData. Each person who goes vegan prevents nearly 200 animals a year from enduring daily suffering and a terrifying death; dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint; reduces their risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; and helps prevent future pandemics. SARS, swine flu, bird flu, and COVID-19 all stemmed from confining or killing animals for food.

Topping PETA’s list is Asheville, North Carolina, followed by Dayton, Ohio; Tacoma, Washington; Boise, Idaho; San Marcos, Texas; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Bend, Oregon; and Bisbee, Arizona.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.