Local Foods in Region Five
Other Initiatives at Region Five:
Region Five Development Commission in partnership with the U of M Central Regional Partnership has been approved to submit an application to the National VISTA program for a designated person to build capacity for a regional local foods program aimed toward increasing incomes of local growers.
This VISTA member will be asked to provide indirect capacity building services to strengthen already occurring activities and create new opportunities in the effort to achieve one primary goal; assist in the creation and implementationof a sustainable regional local foods program. Through a supportive, collaborative approach we will connect locally based small Ag businesses ....i.e. farmers and growers,of whom many are classified as poverty level...... with regional locations that prepare and sell food, such as grocers,hospitals, schools, restaurants, etc. This goal has the potential to positively affect several regional issues such as reducing poverty, carbon foot-print and energy consumption; enhancing community economic vitality and diversity, and promote healthy living.
Benefits of Local Foods:
The University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships are a member of Minnesota Food Works, a group of Minnesota organizations working together in support local foods throughout the state. This group has created a “Why Eat Local?” information sheet in an effort to promote a consistent message and build an understanding of the importance of local foods. This information is listed on several organizations’ websites, including: the Minnesota Project, MISA (Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture), and Edible Twin Cities. The “Why Eat Local” sheet:
Why Eat Local?
- Locally grown products taste fabulous and are packed with nutrition! Since these foods do not travel very far, farmers can choose varieties based on flavor rather than on their ability to withstand a long journey to the market.
- Local farmers can offer you more choices, such as heirloom vegetables, heritage breeds of livestock, and other specialty products that are not likely to be mass marketed.
- Knowing who’s growing your food is a powerful think. It allows you to ask questions, and to make your own choices about how the food you purchase is grown or raised.
Good for your community:
- Purchasing products from local farmers and artisan food producers keeps more money in the community.
Good for your environment:
- The average American dinner travels 1,500 miles before reaching the dinner plate. Eating local food greatly reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and wasteful packing materials.*
For more information on Local Foods please contact Cheryal Lee Hills or Kim Burkett at 218-894-3233.
