The Lane County Farmer’s Market blog features weekly updates, recipes, photos, and more. Feel free to give your ideas as well, especially recipes using the bounty of seasonal, local produce we are seeing coming in each week. See you at the market!
And So It Begins…
As the unseasonable sunshine turns into the life giving rains of the spring we are once again given the opportunity to put our convictions and beliefs back on the dinner table. It is time to renergize your relationship with those that grow your food, so come find your favorite farmer and let them know you appreciate their dedication! You cna find them downtown at 8th and Oak from 10am-2pm on Saturdays.
I know that buying healthy, locally grown produce at the Lane County Farmers Market is good for the land but I rarely think about how it effects the ocean. Here’s a great article from the Oregon Coast Aquarium that I found interesting. Hope you like it as well.
Cherries, Carbon & Ocean Conservation
Maybe it doesn’t seem like cherries, carbon and ocean conservation have anything in common, but what kind of fruit (or any food) you choose to eat may have a decided impact on your carbon emissions and ultimately the protection of our oceans. The eating habits of people in the U.S. alone generate 5% of the world’s greenhouse gases (including carbon), which in turn warm our oceans and contribute to widespread environmental impacts. Most of our food travels a very long way before it reaches our dinner tables – up to 1,500 miles on average. So does this mean you have to choose between a bowl of delicious cherries or warmer oceans? Not at all. You really can have your, uh, cherries, and eat them too. The trick is to make little changes in how, when and where you buy your food. For example:
- Buy your cherries (and other fruits and vegetables) when they are in season in your area. Buying out of season usually means that the produce was shipped in from very far way, thus increasing the carbon footprint of the food.
- Shop farmer’s markets or local vendors. Not only does this help your local economy, it means less distance for the food to travel, and you have more control over how your food was produced, especially if you are looking for organic options.
- Finally, eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat not only has a beneficial effect on human health, it also dramatically decreases carbon emissions because it takes less energy to produce a pound of cherries than it does a pound of meat.
- In the months ahead, the Oregon Coast Aquarium will be offering all kinds of fun, helpful tips on how you can “Eat to Save Our Oceans.” This will include everything from finding a local farmer’s market to awesome recipe ideas. Many of these tips will be offered through the Oregon Coast Aqaurium Facebook or Twitter pages, so make sure you follow us to learn more! Bon appetit!
THIS ARTICLE WAS COURTESY OF THE OREGON COAST AQUARIUM.
Shopping at the Lane County Farmers Market is a terrific way to support local agriculture. Here’s a few reasons why buying locally grown foods is an important concept…
Locally grown food tastes better because it’s fresher. Locally grown produce is usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested. Now that’s fresh!
Local produce is not only better for you, it’s better for the environment. Buying local significantly decreases the number of miles food has to travel before being eaten. Shorter distances between the farm and customer means less fossil fuels is used and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
By buying local you are supporting local farm families and producers, providing jobs within our community. Buying local keeps more dollars in our community strengthening our local economy.
