Rising Tide
Nope, not talking about global climate changes and melting ice caps causing sealevel flooding.
I’m talking about the increasing interest and demand from educated consumers who are willing to cook. They value and are willing to take the time to use raw ingredients to prepare the nutrition to feed their bodies and their loved ones.
There will always be a segment of the population who will opt for prepared foods. They either are afraid to learn to cook, feel taking 30 minutes to prepare their meal is too much or don’t seem to care about the effects of the chemicals and additives found in packaged or fast foods.
They will be hard to reach. It will take some time.
For the rest of us, the issue becomes availability. How can I get good nutritious local products into my family’s diet?
A group of people in Huntington, West Virginia has been talking about a local foods market for a few years. Recently, several Marshall University students completed a Capstone Project identifying how to establish a local food network in the WV-OH-KY region. A small committee of active energetic people have been working hard to get this market open this year, hopefully this summer!
The market will be an inside store, heated and cooled and will have hours that the consumers will enjoy; some early mornings, some late evenings. Farmers will bring in their products, set them in the designated areas, and leave. No sitting around in an outdoor market. By having a year round store the demand will exist throughout the winter as well, indicating the potential for farmers with high tunnels to participate.
The demand side exists. The supply side has to be enhanced. Already about 15 local farms have indicated excited support.
If you want to know more, let me know!
wvfarm2u 
I was checking out at a local grocery store the other day. The cart was filled with meat, veggies and fruit.
Behind me, a young couple, with a cart filled to the brim – with frozen dinners.
Nothing else.
Probably 10 – 15 frozen dinners.
I have to admit, the choices available now are so amazing compared to what could be purchased when I was a kid., But other than selection, frozen cardboard boxes do not offer much more other speed of heating. So why do people chose this? 1-They say they can’t/don;t like to cook. 2-They say they don;t have time to cook. 3-They say everyone wants something different. 4-They say nothing about nutrition.
And, most of them, while saying these things – are mumbling…
I really had to rewrite and edit the blog I wrote about how what we eat affects our intellect a lot….I didn;t want to come right out and say people who eat junk food are not smart….but the info is available that shows with proper nutrition people function so much better….can you imagine people making good decisions as a regular way of life?
No, I can’t – actually
This market idea is very exciting. Places like this, whether run as co-ops or markets, are popping up in all sorts of places. They’re much better for the farmers as well as consumers. If you have info on how this is organized, I’d like to have it for my back pocket!
It is in the process of being organized and there is still a lot that will be determined, but right now will be a nonprofit. Farmers will make their profits but the market itself will reinvest. Plans over time will develop more programs, but it will start small
Definitely better to plan well and start small. Thanks for the info.
Love WV! Glad to see efforts being made around the country to establish viable local agr-businesses. Here in the lovely foothills of western NC, we go out of our way to support our local growers and producers – jellies, jams, commericial cleaning products from recycled restaurant oils, BBQ sauce (of course!) and wonderful organic nutrient dense fruits, veggies, meats and milks, not to mention other products clays & wools for our artisans – living close to the earth is becoming a rare gift I am grateful for everyday!
I see more and more community support all the time. People are interested for many different reasons but support of local farmers exists and is strong.
This has been my soapbox for decades. It’s so fantastic to see it finally catching on.