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market-farming - Re: goat cheese for all!

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "market farming" <market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: goat cheese for all!
  • Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 09:09:55 -0600

To add further to the argument that farmers markets should only sell locally grown product, I firmly believe that consumers will get nutrionally and culinarily superior product. And there is a simple reason why. It's fresher. Fruits and vegetables are alive after harvest. Because they continue to respire, they consume the nutrition that we are looking for in them. The longer they sit before consumption, the less nutritious they are. For the same reason, local produce tastes better. Some of the nutrition components also contribute to flavor. As the produce ages it consumes both nutritional and culinary components. Make sure your customers understand that your produce can be measured in hours, not days.
 
As an aside, I read The Packer regularly. It's the North American produce industry newspaper. It amazes me how much the industry tries to lengthen shelf-life on produce. They get a huge kick out of bragging about tomatoes that look the same 3-4 weeks after picking. As a consumer, it makes me want to gag. I think local growers need to make a point of telling the consumer that they measure freshness in hours, not days. And I think they should tell the consumer that anyone who measures freshness in days is selling "Phresch" produce. Perhaps the market can make an in-house rule that the picking date AND TIME of the produce should be posted.
 
Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center
 
 
 

 
Nan,
    Perhaps you could add the land use part too, when you go to your meeting.  People overwhelmingly want open space and green space where they live.  By supporting your local growers, you indirectly support the retention of such spaces - making it more possible for people to make a living off the land.
    In addition, in these days of global warming, by eating locally, the fuel for transportation, refrigeration, etc. is saved. 
    Supporting small growers is also an issue of national security - to have local food grown nearby is safer than to need it shipped in from across the country - expecially in light of the coming power and fuel shortages.
    Supporting small growers is also a vote for local control of food, and a vote against agribusiness with its chemical, GE, land destructive farming.
           
               Jill
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 7:37 AM
Subject: goat cheese for all!

well, no just kidding...this is nan in n. mississippi....wish I could as a thank you....for info on greenhouses and hi tunnels and salad bags and farmers market....
 
I am literally going to print out your remarks on farmers markets (i.e. don't let folks import non-local produce) and take it to meeting next week!  I was just interviewed for the town paper and made the case again for local only, etc. etc.
 
you guys are great!
 



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