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Buying Local — Terms Defined
“Buy Local” is a phrase being used throughout the country. Supporting local farms and growers helps to increase local economic activity while also providing healthy food products and supporting a healthy environment.
Community Food System
Food production, processing, distribution and consumption are integrated to enhance the environmental, economic, social and nutritional health of a particular place.
Community
Emphasis is on strengthening existing (or developing new) relationships among all components of the food system.
Sustainable
Using environmentally sound practices, including multi-use farming to help prevent depletion of the rich content of the soil. Examples: moving grazing animals in a rotation to keep the land from being stripped; using fewer chemicals, which, in turn, means keeping the watershed cleaner; rotating crops; protecting the farm land for future generations.
Distribution Systems
Farm stores, farmers’ markets, small-scale cooperative companies that deliver fresh produce and other farm products within a defined radius of a farming community. One of these is on the Rappahannock County Farm Tour — Rappahannock Natural Foods Co-op.
CSA — Community Supported Agriculture
Farms that sell annual or semi-annual shares of crops to be grown; farmers are paid in advance, giving them the financial support for planting and growing crops for the shareholders.
Things You Can Do to Help Local Farmers
• Purchase as much food as you can from farmers in your area.
• When dining out, ask your restaurateur to serve locally grown products.
• Encourage your grocery store to offer more locally produced products.
• Encourage and assist schools in obtaining food from local farms.
• Encourage educating students and teachers on healthy local eating.
• Become a volunteer at your school’s cafeteria.
• Encourage institutions and universities to purchase food from farms within your region.
