EC tonight: TLT Local Foods Meeting

Dear People: The Environmental Commission will be meeting at the meeting sponsored by the Tecumseh Land Trust, explained in a letter from Krista Magaw, below:

"As food safety concerns and transportation costs rise, local farmers markets are starting and expanding all across the country. Agriculture is Ohio’s #1 industry -- Ohioans spend $37 billion on food annually. Much of our food expenditures, however, goes to growers, processors, and wholesalers in other states. In contrast, every dollar spent on local food stays in the area, circulating four to seven times through the local economy. Our state’s economy can greatly benefit by enhancing the local food markets and networks that currently exist, while exploring new markets and products to help our economy grow.

To help meet the increasing demand for and production of local food, Governor Strickland created the Food Policy Council within the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The Council’s mission is to support local food systems and help buyers and sellers of local food connect. The Council’s Coordinator, Amalie Lipstreu has been traveling around the state holding community meetings to discuss local food systems. Tecumseh Land Trust is working with ODA and Ms. Lipstreu to host a local foods listening session in Yellow Springs for buyers and growers in Clark and Greene Counties. The purpose of the meeting is to learn how the Food Policy Council can support local farmers markets and to connect buyers of local food with growers.

Please join us for what we hope is just the beginning of a movement to put local food and agriculture at the forefront of our economy.

Local Foods Listening Session
Thursday, July 9, 2009
7-9 PM
Glen Helen Building, 402 Corry St., Yellow Springs
RSVP 937-767-9490 or burns@tecumsehlandtrust.org

There is no charge for the event, but we need your response to make sure we have enough chairs and materials available. If you have any questions about this event please do not hesitate to contact us at 937-767-9490. We hope to see you there."