Last month's Forum included these local economic food leaders:
Ridge Shinn
from
Hardwick Beef
Hardwick Beef provides the very best beef from animals that are raised on grass, without any
antibiotics or added hormones.
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The Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance's mission is to restore and enhance an enduring marine system supporting a healthy diversity and an
abundance of marine life and human uses through a self-organizing and
self-governing organization.
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Allandale Farm is Boston's last working farm. They are located on the Boston/Brookline line near the Arnold Arboretum and the Faulkner Hospital.
The farm specializes in sustainably grown fresh produce grown on their farm and marketed primarily through their own retail market.
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The Sustainable
Business Network's Local Food Committee is in the planning stages of producing the first Boston Local Food Festival in the fall of 2010.
They will be bringing together local farmers, food businesses, organizations and families to celebrate and inspire the growing and eating of MA grown fruits and vegetables.
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 Edible Boston is a
publication and website resource for finding out what's new, what's available locally, and an introduction to people who are instrumental
in bringing about the change. Isn't it time you knew about the farmer
at your local farm stand?
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Natural Foods
Cafe & Deli
Featuring
Local Produced Products, Regional Artisan Cheeses,
Local & Organic Produce,
Free Range Eggs &
Grass Fed Beef.
Local Goods,
ALL KINDS!
We support over 15 local and regional farms
It's like a farmers market
open 7 days a week!
SO COME ON DOWN
You'll be glad you did.
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For a nice review of THE FORUM: ECONOMICS OF
LOCAL FOOD
GO TO
FRED'S BLOG:
GROWN AWAY: ADVENTURES IN FOOD & GARDENING
Click here for the REVIEW
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Why buy local?
Locally grown produce
is fresher.
Produce grown locally is typically picked within 24 hours of your purchase versus produce that has traveled many miles and several days since being harvested.
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Locally grown produce
is better for you!
The nutritional value of fruits and vegetables decline with time after they are harvested. The fresher the vegetables are, the better they are for you!
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Locally grown produce TASTES BETTER!
Fresh Picked, locally grown produce tastes so much better because it is able to ripen longer on the vine = more flavor! Once you've tasted a local tomato or peach you will never go back!
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Buying locally grown food is environmentally responsible
When you buy locally grown food, you reduce carbon emissions and packing materials, lessening your environmental footprint. Buying locally grown food helps preserve our open spaces The local farming landscape will only survive as long as farms are financially viable. When you buy local food you do your part to protect the agricultural landscape, keeping New England...well New England!
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Visit us at our two JP locations:
672 Centre St
617-524-1700
66A Boylston St
617-524-1657
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 Last month City Feed and Supply co-sponsored a forum discussing the economics of local food
with six panelists ranging from farmers to merchants. This month we asked four of the panelists:
"What is the one thing consumers can do that can help build a stronger local food economy?",
as well as suggest resource links where folks can learn more.
This is what they said:
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Ridge Shinn Co-Founder of Hardwick Beef   "The real key to success of the local food economy is sustainability-in a nutshell. The production methods have to be energy efficient (maximize solar powered production-as in 100% grass-fed beef) and the producer has to be paid for cost of production and a fair profit. Most likely this will require producers using leased land (capitalizing land at current real estate prices does not work) and severely limiting infrastructure and heavy metal (tractors) in their production modality. The true caloric costs need to be measured-this is why grain finished livestock does not pencil out and cannot be expected to "feed the world". It takes more calories to produce grain than you net in caloric outcome (forget about dollars for the moment)." Ridge Shinn's recommended resources: Grass Fed Beef: Good For the Environment. Essay by Ridge Shinn Rotokawa Cattle Company :comprehensive services for grass based livestock production Hardwick Beef: 100% grass fed beef Weston Price: Foundation for Wise Traditions in Food, Farming, and the Healing Arts. Eat Wild: Grass Fed Food Facts Holistic Management: Healthy Land, Sustainable Future
Devon Cattle, part of the Rotokawa Devon herd that live in Hardwick. This is a very unique set of cattle that are optimal for production of 100% grass-fed beef. |
Niaz Dorry Coordinating Director of
The Northwest Marine Alliance.
"Start thinking of seafood in the context of the local food systems and local food economy. The exclusion is not only harming local food and economy, it's harming the marine ecosystem."
Niaz's Recommended Resources:
Eat Local Seafood (excerpt from our summer 08 newsletter)
N.A.M.A. Green Jobs on the Blue Ocean The Debra Ann II. It's run by Salisbury fisherman, Paul Metivier who is one of the fishermen involved in the Cape Ann Fresh Catch Community Supported Fishery.
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David Warner
Co-owner of City Feed and Supply
"Buy local food,cook it up at home, eat it slowly & talk about where it came from. If people say, " But it costs so much", tell them why they can not afford not to buy more local food."
City Feed and Supply's Recommended Resources:
Buy Fresh :Guide to farms and locally grown food north of Boston
Food Routes : Reintroducing Americans to their food
Local Harvest : Find farmer's markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area.
Local in Season: Better food is the reason. Recipes and resources for food in season.
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Your connection to MA grown farm products, specialty foods, and fun ag-tivities.
Northeast Organic Farming Association: For everyone who cares about food, where it comes from, and how it's grown.
Slow Food :Linking the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) Helping agricultural enterprises in southeastern MA achieve economic success.
Sustainable Business Network : Engages business and community leaders in building economies that are local, green, and fair.
All links listed above(plus more!) are listed on our
LINKS page at City Feed and Supply
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We would love to hear your
feedback!
If you went to the forum, or have any other resource links you think would be helpful for us to have on our website, let us know!
Please send it to community.cityfeed@gmail.com.
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