A Local Food Economy
Check out these thought provokers in support of local economies, including local food economies that encompass buying local seasonal foods. Then buy local. It just makes sense.
Take a look at The Story of Stuff, which takes a look at all the stuff we consume: where it comes from, where it ends up, and the hidden costs along the way. This 20-minute film was written and narrated by Annie Leonard, an expert in international sustainability and environmental health issues. At the end of the film you can view a list of 10 steps you can take to address the problems mentioned in the film. First on the list is Power Down, including "buy local seasonal food (food takes energy to grow, package, store and transport)."
Along those lines, last month author Michael Pollan guest blogged on Amazon about his latest book In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. In his last post, he wrote of his observations from touring the country promoting his book:
I'm convinced that we're witnessing the rise of a new movement around food in this country--one of the most exciting and hopeful political developments in my lifetime.
Two years ago, when I was on the road for The Omnivore's Dilemma, the ferment around food issues was concentrated mostly in big cities and mostly on the West Coast. That was where people "got it" and seemed most excited about building local food economies, supporting small farmers doing good work, and reforming agricultural policies at the federal and local levels. But much has changed in the last two years. I found the same level of enthusiasm and sophistication in places like Indianapolis--cities in the farm belt where you would not expect criticism of the corn industrial complex, or the virtues of local food, to find much support.
We see not only that same enthusiasm, but solid efforts to promote the local food economy in northern Michigan. One notable example is Taste the Local Difference, which has raised awareness about local food options available to us. You can visit the project website, look for Taste the Local Difference signs identifying local products in area grocery stores, and keep a look out for the project's 2008 guide of local farms and products. Taste the Local Difference is part of the Michigan Land Use Institute's Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project, which aims to "build healthier communities with food that's thousands of miles fresher."
With warmer weather (finally!) upon us, local CSA farms starting their spring shares, and asparagus season just around the corner, we're ready to enjoy the bounty of the upcoming season!
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