TAKE THE CHALLENGE | Eat Local August 5
| Eating Local means only eating food that is produced within a 100-mile radius of your home. Join us in supporting West Virginia farmers and the local economy on August 5 by eating local. NATIONAL FARMERS' MARKET WEEK August 2-8, 2009 VISI T THESE SITES: wvfarm2u.org Eat Local Challenge.com Why Eat Local WV Farmers' Market Directory WV Grown Foods & Things |
| Eat Local Day, continued |
| Commissioner Douglass pointed out that it’s no great sacrifice to eat locally in West Virginia. “West Virginia leads the nation in percentage of family-owned farms, and their products are available at farmers’ markets and farm stands throughout the Mountain State,” he said. More than 100 farmers’ markets and farm stands are located throughout the Mountain State. A list of local outlets can be found at www.wvagriculture.org. Commissioner Douglass added that the typical produce found at West Virginia farmers’ markets is less than 24 hours from the field and is picked at the peak of ripeness. Plus, many of the varieties grown by local farmers have been chosen for their flavor, not for their appearance and durability. Locally grown meat products are also available from a number of producers, some of which offer overnight cold shipping. Or, if you have the freezer space, you can buy a portion of an entire beef that was raised and processed in West Virginia. “There are literally thousands of small-scale farmers in the state, and they are generally very responsive to consumer wants,” said Commissioner Douglass. “Whether meat, produce or fruit, if consumers show a demand for a particular type of product, a local farmer is usually willing to meet that demand.” To encourage consumers to buy more locally-grown produce and “West Virginia Grown” value-added products, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will offer 10 percent off purchases of $25 or more at its “Country Store” at the State Fair of West Virginia this year. Coupons will be available at highway welcome centers and rest areas, and may be downloaded from the WVDA website at www.wvagriculture.org. A diet based on local foods can help consumers meet dietary recommendations. Given that fewer than one in five adults eat the recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, and that one in five children are overweight, a diet with plenty of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables can go a long way to improving the overall health of our state and nation. Adherents of local eating say they almost never think about calorie counts because their diets are rich in top-quality fruits and vegetables and low in empty calories. Eating locally is also a good choice for protecting our environment. The average meal travels approximately 1,500 miles between farm and fork, and the majority of America’s fresh fruits and vegetables come from California, Florida and Mexico. A local meal travels less than 100 miles, which dramatically cuts fossil-fuel consumption and limits the risk from accidental or intentional contamination. In addition, choosing locally grown products makes it economically possible for West Virginia producers to protect green spaces and practice diverse, low-intensity farming – and it helps to preserve West Virginia’s heritage of rural living and self-sufficiency. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research shows that farmers continue to receive a decreasing share of consumers’ food dollars, and that in 2002, farmers earned their lowest real net income since 1940.  Between 1954 and 2004, the percentage of consumer dollars received by farmers fell from 37 percent to 20 percent. During roughly the same time frame, the percentage of American’s disposable income spent on food has fallen from 18 percent to 10 percent. In other words, today’s farmer receives 90 cents on an$8 steak, 11 cents on a $2.50 loaf of bread, eight cents on a $3.50 bag of potato chips, and another eight cents on a $5 box of cereal. Eating locally puts many more of consumers’ food dollars directly in the hands of the people who produce the food. Commissioner Douglass stated that “consumer shopping choices will determine whether small, local producers survive, or if America outsources its food production to the third world. As we at the Department like to remind people, ‘No Farm – No Food.’”great sacrifice to eat locally in West Virginia.
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