BUY FRESH, BUY LOCAL
Had a good PEACH lately that wasn't laced with pesticides? How
about a free-range egg? Or, well… you know… a free-range
chicken? Actually, peaches happen to be one of the fruits with
the most pesticides in them.
“There are many good reasons to buy locally grown food. YOU'LL
GET EXCEPTIONAL TASTE AND FRESHNESS. Local food is fresher and
tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or
countries. Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for
taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life.
“YOU'LL STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY. Buying local food keeps
your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the
farmers who grow your food builds relationships based on understanding
and trust, the foundation of strong communities.
“YOU'LL SUPPORT ENDANGERED FAMILY FARMS. There's never been a more
critical time to support your farming neighbors. With each local
food purchase, you ensure that more of your money spent on food goes to
the farmer.
“YOU'LL SAFEGUARD YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH. Knowing where your food
comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe
food from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals,
pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in
their operations. Buy food from local farmers you trust.
“YOU'LL PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. LOCAL FOOD DOESN'T' HAVE TO
TRAVEL FAR. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing
materials. Buying local food also helps to make farming more
profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive.
When you buy local food, you vote with your food dollar. This
ensures that family farms in your community will continue to thrive and
that healthy, flavorful, plentiful food will be available for future
generations.”
Many local producers here in east central IOWA as well as others in
western Illinois are part of the BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL campaign.
The group creates a directory of local farmers markets. Also in
the directory are individuals who supply produce which U-Pick like
flowers and eggs from MISS EFFIE'S COUNTRY FLOWERS & GARDEN STUFF
by Donahue, IOWA, here in Scott County.
Listed also are NOSTALGIA FARMS by Walcott, IOWA, that provides
tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, chickens, and other items as well as “no
hormones or routine antibiotics beef” from Sawyer Beef by Princeton,
IOWA, both in Scott County.
So check out www.farmpaths.org to find a place close by so you can BUY
FRESH BUY LOCAL. If you are not close to those areas mentioned,
your county extension office may help you out. It's a good step
to take.
Always remember to CPR: CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE
Blog For Iowa 
The Buy Fresh, Buy Local program is organized by the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). PFI is a group of farmers that try to foster profitable, ecologically sound, and community enhancing approaches to agriculture. It's website is at http://www.practicalfarmers.org
I am a member of this organization and also produce naturally raised pork for sale. I certainly try to buy as much locally raised produce as I can and wholeheartedly support this program.
Thanks Molly for the post!
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Great post!
In addition to buying, another great thing to do is plant a small garden. For a couple of dollars, I'm reaping a whirlwind of tomatoes right now…
// Thanks for the link, Kevin!
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Chad,
You must be livin' right if you have a 'whirlwind' of tomatoes, we haven't gotten one ripe one yet from our garden.
I agree that everyone should plant a small garden at least. It helps to keep people in touch with soil that provides us with our food. Our small garden keeps growing every year. Now we have a 30 ft wide and about 100 ft long garden. Plus a half acre of sweet corn. Maybe my family has gotten a bit obsessed by gardening…..
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Good stuff; saw the group at the fair. Please lay off the colored text though, as I just had like infinity seizures.
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