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!