Do You Read Those Tiny Labels On Your Veggies?

I've been a local-vore for quite some time and have found that lately I'm seeing more and more produce from other regions at the grocery store. Sometimes just seeing other regions of the state or u.s.a. are better than food coming from other countries. However, I notice while I'm looking at my food's "birthplace" the guy next to me is picking up tomatoes from mexico and I find myself compelled to blurt out my big mouth. Not in a bad or rude way, I just elevate the volume of my usually internal dialogue to sort of 'advertise' for local farmers. For example, I simply mentioned "from Mexico?" with a sarcastic/inquisative tone and watched him put the mexican tomato back and grab the ones from Florida. Ha! Mission accomplished!

If everyone increased their volumes do you think it would help make a difference? I think it would. It did for the tomato guy! Speak up!

To that end...Do you contribute to a Web site or blog? American Farmland Trust needs your help to spread the word about the importance of farmland protection for local food.

1. Take a stand by placing a badge on your site and linking to American Farmland Trust. You can get the code for these badges here or by clicking on a picture below.


2. Share your farmers market and local food stories through blog posts or video at least five times. Be sure to mention why having local farmland is important to you! For more resources, take a look at our 7 ways to save farmland or farmers market manager pages.

3. Let us know you are taking a stand by sending us an e-mail at FriendsofFarmland@farmland.org and we will include your blog in the list below.

And just FYI: The Cape Harbour Yacht Club in Cape Coral, Fl will host a farmers market between the two towers every Saturday morning from 8am till noon beginning May 23rd! It runs through October 10, 2009. Check out the details here! See you there!

Not from Cape Coral, Fl? No problem! Just visit http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/ and find one near you!