By: Laura Bartholomae And Carolyn Tallman

Local: collaborative effort to build more locally based, self- reliant food economies - one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place – Locavore: someone who eats food grown or produced locally or within a certain radius such as 50, 100, or 150 miles Foodshed: everything between where a food is produced and where a food is consumed -- the land it grows on, the routes it travels, the markets it goes through, the tables it ends up on

Decrease carbon footprint – Carbon footprint: the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event or product – By buying from small farms you are not supporting industrial agriculture, which largely contributes to GHG emissions – This cuts the amount of transportation (hence CO 2 ) required to get your food to the table

Health Benefits – Humans who eat locally grown foods receive more nutrients This is because farmers use sustainable techniques to care for their soils (i.e. cover crops) Therefore, the food is more ‘nutrient dense’ – Foods lose a lot of their vitamins the longer it sits in transit or on the shelves – Consumers can diversify their diet People are more inclined to buy several different types of food that they may never have had before because of their freshness – Hard to enforce food safety issue It is easier to have food contaminations with mass produced produce On small farms the food quality is monitored more closely 2006 contamination scare with spinach

Supporting Local Farmers – Many local farmers are being put out of business by large factory farms The only way they will continue to prosper is if we buy from them – Helps maintain a strong sustainable local economy

Establishing a Local Community – Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) A farmer sells ‘shares’ of his harvest to the public The farmer will supply the public with whatever produce is available at the time of pick up The people develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown – Make friends at your local market!

Delaware Farmers Market – Location Sandusky Street – Days in Operation May-October: Wednesday 3-6; Saturday 9:30-12:30 – Vendors Baked goods, flowers, honey, fudge, and a variety of in season fruits and vegetables

Delaware County Fairgrounds Market – Location Delaware County Fairgrounds (Pennsylvania Ave.) – Days in Operation May-October: Saturday 9-12 – Vendors Wool, seeds, baked goods, honey, and a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables…they have okra!

North Market Farmers Market – Location 59 Spruce Street…just off of High St. in the Arena district of downtown Columbus – Days in Operation Monday: 9am – 5pm (select) Tuesday – Friday: 9am – 7pm Saturday: 8am – 5pm Sunday: Noon – 5pm – Vendors The Greener Grocer Omega Artisan Baking Bluescreek Farm Meats North Market Poultry and Game – In addition to vendors there are also a variety of prepared foods!

The Delaware County Community Market – Location 222 E. William St. – Days in Operation GRAND OPENING ON APRIL 10 th ! – Vendors Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, homemade prepared and processed foods as well as one-of-a-kind handmade items.

Whole Foods – Location 3670 W. Dublin-Granville Rd. (just off of 270) – Days in Operation Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday - Saturday 8:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. – Local Vendors Snowville Creamery: pasture grazed, grass-fed, minimally processed, not homogenized dairy Depending on where you’re from, Whole Foods supports several local vendors (from VA, PA, NJ etc.) who supply them with produce

Community Supported Agriculture – Three Ring Farm Delaware, OH Specializes in eggs – Sippel Family Farm Mt. Gilead, OH Graduate of OWU! – The Wayward Seed Farm Marysville, OH – Crooked Willow Farm Sunbury, OH SOLD OUT FOR 2010!

Even organics in stores are manufactured by large factories far away There are almost 2 million farms in the USA and 80% are small family farms…think about it!

Knowyourfarmerknowyourfood.com Localharvest.org Rick Dinovo, phone interview Annemarie Wong Phil and Mindy Bartholomae, local farmers local-matters.org