Why Buy Local Food?
EAT LOCAL! Guide
BUY LOCAL FIRST!
EAT LOCAL!
GROW LOCAL!
LOCAL ENERGY!
LOCAL CURRENCY!
Keep Me Informed About the BOULDER COUNTY GOING LOCAL! Campaign.
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 | "Most of us expect our food system to produce for us both what we need now, and for generations to come. But increasingly, decisions are being made that limit the viability of locally owned family farms, and access to fresh produce for our children and grandchildren.
"We all have a stake in the food system, issues of safety, hunger, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and stewardship, nutrition, and public health affect our quality of life. A healthy local food system can ensure fresh fruits and vegetables in our community, and create long-term economic stability.
"Choosing local food is the leading way you can increase the circulation of your dollar... By supporting local farmers today, you can help ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow, and that future generations will have access to nourishing, flavorful, and abundant food."
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– Laura R. Tanaka
Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association
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About the EAT LOCAL! Campaign
Food is energy. It takes energy to grow, harvest and move food around, and we need to start diversifying the food that is produced in our regions and supporting farmers that use natural, bio-intensive farming methods if we are to adapt to an energy constrained future. Simply put: with current industrial agriculture methods, we are using too much energy to produce the food energy we need and destroying the soil and biodiversity of our localities in the process.
Many people have first hand experience in growing or eating locally produced food at some time in their life. The idea that we can eat whatever we want, whenever we want–mangoes in the winter, Thai spices in Northern Canada or an American burger in Delhi for cheap–is still fairly new and is highly problematic.
In North America a revival is taking place. More and more communities and towns have at least one farmers market. Awareness is spreading. Some people consciously choose to buy local produce when they go grocery shopping or belong to a box scheme or even pick herbs, fruits and veggies from their gardens in the warmer months. Reducing consumption and starting to produce locally is sometimes easier said than done, but this is an area where there are plenty of resources and examples of community groups and also lots of potential for individuals and communities to learn and succeed at various levels.
Local food systems provide several advantages over conventional and global markets. Buying locally strengthens regional economies, supports family farms, provides delicious, "fresh-from-the-field" foods for consumers, preserves the local landscape, and fosters a sense of community.
A local food system is made up of many elements. It includes the regional farmers, ranchers, and food producers as well as the restaurants, retailers, and institutions that serve food. It also includes the end consumer of those products, because local food is produced for local consumption. The EAT LOCAL! campaign is designed to bring new awareness, energy and vitality to the local food system, promoting close connections between members of the community and those who grow their food.
Vision & Goals
- Expand and support local food growers and encourage investments in local food production capacity.
- Increase public awareness of the public about the health, economic, and community value of local farms and locally-grown food.
- Expand the market for local food by encouraging individuals, local businesses and institutions to increase purchases of local food.
- Encourage citizens to buy their food directly from farmers markets and/or become members of a CSA program ; to patronize local restaurants and independent stores offering locally grown and produced food; and to seek out organic and fair trade options.
- Support local growers, CSAs, restaurants, grocers, food producers, farmers markets and co-ops with increased visibility and sales.
- Support and further develop a vibrant and sustainable local food system in Boulder County and the surrounding food-shed .
- Strengthen connections among local farms, food producers, restaurants, caterers, institutions, and the public.
- Increase CSA subscriptions in Boulder County by 100% over the next two years.
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