Local Food Love
Map of our local Foodshed thoughtfully created and provided by
the Great Basin Community Food Co-op
Food, like most everything, is part of a larger system… and if that system is set up for health, it perpetuates health for all parts involved!
What IS 'Local Food'?
The USDA defines Local Food as “a geographical concept related to the distance between food producers and consumers”. This also describes what is referred to as a Foodshed. Items are often considered local when they originate within a 100 mile radius of where the people who buy and use them live.
Why is Local Food Important?
Local food is produced within a system and that system produces knock on effects:
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Environment - When we buy food that is grown and produced close to where we live, we are cutting down on the packaging, refrigeration, and gas required to get it safely from one place to another over long distances. This is especially true when we are buying foods directly from farmers at their farm stores or at farmers markets.
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Economy - We cast our vote with every dollar that we spend. Purchasing from producers in our area keeps our local community thriving so that it can support our friends and neighbors by building a stable economic structure that does not need to rely on outside resources.
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Nutrition - Foods that are harvested as close to the time that we put them in our mouths have far more nutritional value than those that have been processed for shipping and travel long distances to reach us.
What can you do to support your Local Food System?
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Know Your Farmer - There is a wealth of farmers who produce pretty much anything you could want or need in northern Nevada. Farms have been the backbone of our community and our civilization for thousands of years… They’re also really fun to visit! Check out this list of local producers: Local Farmers
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Shop Smart - You can find products grown and made in our neck of the woods at super cool local retailers like the Great Basin Community Food Co-op and other fine establishments listed here. Many of our local farmers provide CSA boxes and also sell their goods at Farmers Markets around town. Local Retailers
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Dine Responsibly - Ask when you go out to eat, what local food items the restaurant might have. It's We’ve got some great restaurants here and a lot of them support farmers by using local meat, dairy, honey, produce, and more when crafting their dishes. Here’s a bunch of eatery options that will make your belly and your heart happy, not to mention contribute to creating a thriving local economy! Local Restaurants
Big thanks to Nevada Grown for creating these amazing resources for our community! Check out all of the info they provide about Local Food on their website NevadaGrown.com
Additional Resources about Food Systems Specifically
More Resources...
to guide you on your quest for amazing, thoughtfully sourced food:
Online
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Cornucopia.org - “The Cornucopia Institute provides needed information to family farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders in the good food movement through research and investigations on agriculture and food issues.”
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GoGreenLocally.org - “We provide the information, resources, and support for local people to take individual and collective action to live sustainably and transform cities into sustainable, eco-friendly, socially just and environmentally regenerated green cities.” There's a Northern Nevada Chapter!
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OrganicConsumers.org - “[Our mission is] to protect and advocate for consumers' right to safe, healthful food and other consumer products, a just food and farming system and an environment rich in biodiversity and free of pollutants.”
Local
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Nevada Grown - “NevadaGrown is a nonprofit Nevada corporation whose mission is to foster the success of sustainable agriculture and to encourage healthy eating for Nevada’s communities through education, support and promotion.”
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Reno Food Systems - “The Reno Food System’s mission is cultivating community-based food systems through education, research and civic engagement.”
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UNCE (University of Nevada Cooperative Extension)
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WNC (Western Nevada College)
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Great Basin Community Food Co-op - “Our purpose is to promote our local food system and to serve as a sustainable cooperative model for access to wholesome food.”
Books
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Food Fix by Mark Hyman MD
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Botany of Desire, Omnivore’s Dilemma, and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
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Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
More content added monthly!
