July 27, 2005

Why Should You Eat Locally?

"A recent study in Maine shows that shifting just 1% of consumer expenditures to direct purchasing of local food products would increase farmers' income by 5%. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) estimates that by encouraging Maine residents to spend just $10/week on local food, $100,000,000 will be invested back into farmers' pockets and the Maine economy each growing season."

---Food Routes

Now think about that for a moment.  Imagine if we all just spent $10 a week on local food what that would do for the small family farm and for our communities as a whole.  Buy some cheese, some eggs, some vegetables or bread.

Jul 27, 2005 11:00:00 AM | Local Food Challenge

1 Comment

farmgirl

Hi,
Great post! Those numbers are staggering--and so inspiring. I just linked here from a comment you left (about the Eat Local Challenge) on Cooking With Amy. And I just want to say, You go, girl! : )

Looking forward to exploring more of your site.

Posted by: farmgirl | July 28, 2005 at 08:25 AM

The comments to this entry are closed.

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Local Food Challenge 1. What's your definition of local for this challenge? I'm going to start with the Locavores criteria and work with the 100-mile radius around San Francisco. This also means if not local, then organic and if neither small family farm and then move the radius out in 25-mile increments. I expect I'll be learning some much-needed geography. I'm a city dweller. My extended environs go to Sonoma, Yosemite and Santa Cruz. I'm lost anywhere else! 2. What exemptions will you claim? Although it's impossible to source Jamba Juice locally they are a local company (wink). No, I may need to give this up. Along with my "why bothers" (non-fat decaf latte) and my weekly veggie burrito. I'm also not sure what I'll do about tortillas and lavash. I will make exemptions around tea with organic or fair trade. What I'm looking to do is bring in some new food products into my everyday life. I do a fair amount of baking and cooking for myself and will be specifically looking at how to bake in an organic manner and find spices that are sustainably grown and/or organic. So spending the month of July raising my awareness and working to find quality-tasting substitutes for everyday products is my ultimate goal. 3. What is your personal goal for the month? Realistically, and maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think I, nor any of us, can eat 100% local but this effort for me is to learn what is lacking in the foodshed....

jeannebee

what happens to the hole when the donut is gone?

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