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Save This PageSupporting local farmers is the focus of a campaign to be launched soon by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.
The campaign, Save Our Food, will kick off at events in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Mechanicsville and Fredericksburg this week and next. Each event will feature local experts talking about the nutritional, economic and personal benefits of buying and eating locally grown foods.
One speaker, Matt Benson, an economist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, will share the results of a new study he has conducted on how buying locally grown food affects the local economy. Jonah Bowles, a risk-management specialist with Farm Bureau, will discuss food imports.
A new Farm Bureau Web site, www.saveourfood.org, provides information about locally grown foods.
The first two kickoff events occur during this week's Farmers' Market Week in Virginia. The schedule for the four events, which begin at 10 a.m., is:
In a related event, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is conducting an "Eat Local for a Day" video-production contest.
The department wants residents to make a video of the Virginia-grown and -made foods and beverages consumed during a single day this week. The video should be no longer than five minutes and include where the foods were bought and how the person enjoyed them.
For details, go to: www.virginiagrown.com.
Contact Greg Edwards at (804) 649-6390 or gedwards@timesdispatch.com.
