Hello, and thanks for checking out my blog. My name is Alex Tiller and I am fascinated by agriculture and farming. I grew up in rural Ohio and spent many summers working on farms when I was younger. My family still owns farmland in the area. I visit lots of farms in different areas that grow all kinds of different crops and I share what I find with the world via this blog. You can contact me directly via my email link at: http://www.alextiller.com

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Disclaimer: Alex Tiller manages commingled accounts. Any agriculture related discussion or commentary on this website should not be considered investment advice. Conflicts of interest may exist.

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Alex Tiller's Blog on Agriculture & Farming

May 18

Buy Fresh, Buy Local

Have you seen the Buy Fresh, Buy Local signs around town, in the grocery store, and on bumper stickers?

The Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign was designed to persuade small and regional grocery stores to carry locally grown foods, while also encouraging consumers to buy food products from local growers. The campaign was launched in 2003 by its founders Community Alliance with Family Farmers and National Food Routes Buy Local Learning Chapter.

According to www.foodroutes.org, there are five main reasons why buying food locally is so important. They are:

great taste and freshness,
help improve the local economy,
support family farms,
safeguard your families health,
and protect the environment.

The awareness campaign reaches out to schools, farmer’s markets, restaurants, and super market patrons alike. Special labels notify consumers that the products that they are purchasing are locally grown and their purchase supports local farmers and the local economy.

Twenty-Five states are currently involved in program including; Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Many states have more than one Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter. Any community can start their own Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter in their town. All they have to do is contact FoodRoutes and ask for a local chapter application.

The Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign is a program dedicated to helping consumers purchase great quality food that was grown right in their own community. Not only are they getting some of the freshest produce available they are helping the economy by keeping their dollars circulating in their community. So the next time you enter a supermarket to purchase your weekly groceries, try mixing things up and looking for the fresh fruit and vegetables with a Buy Fresh Buy Local sticker attached to them.

(I went to my local farmers market this last weekend and snapped the shots below.)

Farmers Market

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