Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Montpelier, Vt – People from all across the state are taking part in the “Eat Local Leadership Challenge” including Governor Douglas, Speaker Gaye Symington, Representative David Zuckerman, Senator Sara Kittell, Secretary of Transportation Neale Lunderville, and Vermont Agency of Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee, as well as Deputy Secretaries Anson Tebbetts and David Lane. This weeklong challenge started yesterday and invites participants to eat 100% local foods for a week.

“This challenge is a way for us to become more aware of local food sources and how just small changes in our shopping and eating habits can have a big impact on our communities,” said Governor Douglas. “We live in one of the most agricultural regions in the United States. Everything from fresh produce to cheeses, and milk, to beef, pork and poultry, are produced in Vermont. There are so many items that we can purchase locally.”

The Eat Local Challenges began as a grassroots program of interested consumers coming together for challenges regionally and has grown to the statewide movement it is today. This challenge comes in advance of regional Eat Local Challenges and is a way for local, regional and statewide leaders to extend the Eat Local invitation to a larger audience, while exploring options for their own diet. The goal is to eat only food grown or raised within 100 miles of home. Exceptions exist for spices and leaveners and some people use “wild cards” for items such as coffee.

The Eat Local Challenges are a new and exciting learning experience for consumers interested in the future of Vermont’s agriculture. The focus provides a mechanism for exploring the diversity of our food production. The annual Central Vermont Eat Local Challenge will kick-off August 1st on the Sate House Lawn. Vermont chefs will have a cook-off featuring all local products and the public is invited to vote for their favorite dish. The event is scheduled from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

“Eating local food supports our working landscape and provides more engine-power to Vermont's economy and to our individual health, said Gaye Symington, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives. “Chefs around Vermont have made a commitment to local food. We all should do the same by making sure that local food is found in our refrigerators, lunch boxes, work place cafeterias, and vending machines.”

“By purchasing locally produced food you are showing support for food producers in your region and helping to keep local farmers in business,” commented Roger Allbee.

There are many reasons to eat locally including the cost of transportation, safety concerns and the economic impact on local communities. Even if you can only join the challenge for a single meal, it’s a great start to thinking about what we can do as individuals to support local food and farming.