August 21, 2008

Safe, fresh, local food is a reason to support farmers

MECHANICSVILLE—If every family in Richmond and surrounding counties bought $10 worth of locally grown produce each week, they could boost the local economy by as much as $203 million.

That’s according to Matthew Benson, an economist with Virginia Cooperative Extension, who spoke to consumers and reporters at the Pole Green Produce stand last week as part of Virginia Farm Bureau’s Save Our Food campaign.

Farm Bureau is touting the benefits of eating safe, fresh, locally grown food, and encouraging people to join the organization in its support of farmers who provide all of those things.

The Mechanicsville press conference was one of four of which farmers’ market customers, farmers, nutritionists and Farm Bureau representatives talked about the benefits of eating food that’s produced in Virginia.

Benson said fresh, local food sold at Virginia’s 134 farmers’ markets and farm stands injects millions of dollars into the state’s economy. According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, farm food sales directly to consumers that year generated $60.8 million in Virginia.

Benson and several colleagues did a study to find out how a small amount of money spent by Virginia families each week on fresh produce would affect the economy. “The statistics are staggering,” he said.

If every household in the state spent just $10 a week on local food, it would generate an additional $1.65 billion for communities in which the foods were raised.

Farm Bureau launched its Save Our Food campaign and companion Web site at SaveOurFood.org on July 28.

“Virginia Farm Bureau is dedicated to making sure Virginia families have a fresh and safe locally grown food supply, keeping our country self-sustaining rather than depending on foreign food,” said Greg Hicks, VFBF communications director. “Through our lobbying efforts and educational programs, we are combating issues that are negatively affecting farmland such as high taxes, development pressures and an aging farm population.”

Farm Bureau is encouraging Virginians to join the organization in its support of agriculture.

“Agriculture is not the most necessary industry in the world: agriculture is the only necessary industry in the world,” said Jonah Bowles, VFBF agriculture risk management coordinator, who spoke at the press conferences.

Contact Benson at 540-341-7961, Hicks at 804-290-1139 or Bowles at 804-290-1117.