AUTHOR: Julia TITLE: Buy Local Challenge DATE: 7/08/2009 03:25:00 PM ----- BODY:

"I pledge to eat at least one thing from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week!"

Join me in this challenge: All you have to do to take the challenge is commit to eating local during Buy Local Week (July 18 - 26 in 2009).

Why is buying local so important?

Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances. Local farmers can offer varieties bred for flavor rather than for long shelf life.
With each local food purchase, you ensure that more of your money spent on food goes to the farmer. Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your own community. In Massachusetts, if every household purchased just $12 worth of farm products for eight weeks (basically the summer season), over $200 million would be put back into the pockets of our farmers.
Locally grown food retains more nutrients and is less likely to cause foodborne illnesses than food that is shipped from far away. Buying local enables you to choose farmers who may avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified seed.
Buying from a local farm cuts down on the distance food travels, reducing the consumption of oil and carbon emissions nationwide.

When you buy local, you help to ensure that the benefits of our farms survive for many years to come.

Can you take the challenge?

For more information on the Buy Local Challenge, click here.

Psst, pass it on.

Labels: locavore

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Katie DATE:7/08/2009 07:34:00 PM I'm definitely in! I'll be in Chicago for the first few days, but this will be the perfect excuse for me to check out the farmers' markets there :). I'll try to spread the word around, too. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types DATE:7/09/2009 09:01:00 AM Great idea! I'm going to give it my best shot. I have a friend who always challenges me on why local is better. I'm sending her your excellent list. ----- --------