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One way to avoid gentically engineered food is to buy organic.
But buying Certified Organic produce and products at your local
supermarket can be both expensive and limiting, especially when they
don't carry what you want or need.
Fortunately, options are available and they're closer to you than
you think! Empower yourself by tapping into Local Food Suppliers such as
CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and
Local Farmers Markets.
What are CSAs and how do they work?
You can buy directly from an organic farm by subscribing to a
CSA. Subscribers can pick up every week or bi-monthly a box of
organic produce from a pick up area in their neighborhood (i.e.
libraries, a subscriber's home, etc.) Cost of membership varies by
farm and region.
What are the benefits of CSA farm membership?
CSAs promote sustainable agriculture in five ways:
* Provide farmer with direct outlets for farm products and
ensures fair compensation
* Encourage proper land stewardship by supporting farmers in
transition to low or no chemical inputs
* Strengthen local economies by keeping food dollars in local
communities
* Directly link producers with consumers allowing people to have
a personal connection with their food and the land upon which it
was produced
* Make nutritious, affordable, wholesome food accessible to
community members.
Resources for finding a CSA:
* Robyn Van En Center for
CSA Resources
* Alternative
Farming Information Center: CSAs By State
* Local Harvest's CSA
finder
* SEE (Social and
Environmental Entrepreneurs)
* Community Alliance with Family
Farmers (California group)
What are Farmer's Markets? Why are they important?
Farmer's markets are usually open-air locations where farmers can
sell their crops directly to the public. Farmers markets are
essential because they serve as an outlet to bring together rural
farmers and urban consumers. They allow consumers to meet and
interact with the farmers on a personal level. Since these are the
same farmers that have produced the food for sale, farmers benefit
from valuable feedback from consumers. In exchange, consumers
benefit from access and exposure to agricultural issues facing
farmers in their region.
Other benefits for consumers include both access to local, fresh
produce, and reduced cost due to produce being sold directly by the
farmer. "Middlemen" dealing with packaging, marketing, and long
distance transportation are eliminated. Supporting Farmers Markets
therefore reduces the environmental costs of agricultural
production. The social importance of Farmer's Markets cannot be
understated since it allows for people from diverse backgrounds to
interact and build community.
Resources for finding Farmers' Markets:
* USDA
National Farmers Market Directory, by State
* California
Federation of Certified Farmers Markets, By County
* UK National
Association of Farmers Markets
Additional Resources on Sustainable and Organic
Agriculture:
* California Certified Organic
Farmers
* Organic Consumers
Association
* Organic Farming Research
Foundation
* Organic Trade Association
Consider making a donation to the
True Food Network to support this important work.
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