Today is the beginning of a 2-week challenge to eat local. I can't begin to write constructively about the need for us to "eat local" since so many have done it so well already. Read more about local foods here.
We are personally interested in the eat local campaign because we see that it helps with the economic sustainability of small farms. If you buy direct, at farm stands or markets, the farmer gets the majority of the money and may approach a living wage. If you buy at the large box store, generally you are supporting corporate farms. There is a time and a place for corporate farms. America cannot be fed by small farms exclusively. But the small farmers cannot compete on the same playing field as the corporate farms, and are going out of business at an alarming rate.
Would you please do ONE thing during this 2-week challenge? Visit a farmer's market you haven't been to before. Buy and try a new veggie at the market. Click on the map at Local Harvest to see who's in your area. Or do something of your own choosing--just do it!
Bon appetit!
We are personally interested in the eat local campaign because we see that it helps with the economic sustainability of small farms. If you buy direct, at farm stands or markets, the farmer gets the majority of the money and may approach a living wage. If you buy at the large box store, generally you are supporting corporate farms. There is a time and a place for corporate farms. America cannot be fed by small farms exclusively. But the small farmers cannot compete on the same playing field as the corporate farms, and are going out of business at an alarming rate.
Would you please do ONE thing during this 2-week challenge? Visit a farmer's market you haven't been to before. Buy and try a new veggie at the market. Click on the map at Local Harvest to see who's in your area. Or do something of your own choosing--just do it!
Bon appetit!
I have only been to our farmer's market twice this summer due to us being gone so many weekends, but I promise to go tomorrow morning!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great reminder and your valuable perspective as a small family farmer.
Do you guys have any kind of produce stand, or is your garden just for your use?
Pam,
ReplyDeleteWe eat most of what our garden produces. Sometimes we give away what we don't use. Just haven't made that leap to raising veggies for others for cash yet.
Thanks for taking the challenge!
We try to eat local as we can -- no farmer's markets nearby but there are a couple of fruit stands, and I buy from them on occasion. Will do more, I promise!
ReplyDelete