Well, this is the end of my year and a half experiment. I set out to explore the viability of local eating in my area and have concluded it to be entirely different than the model being practiced in areas like California and Florida. In the Midwest and other seasonal areas, it is canned vegetables saved from the growing season (a better energy choice than freezing) and eating less in the winter. The best way to manage your energy usage in this area is to eat as the Builder Generation did (our grandparents)--or earlier and eat less meat and/or eat wild caught venison. I have met no one, locavore or not, who is willing to give up non-fresh produce in the off season and from a nutritional standpoint it is hardly recommended to omit many of these foods that have made us healthier. In all of these things I keep mindful. Off season fresh produce in moderation, imports in moderation, flipping jars to find the more local producer, growing my own when possible, and not being wasteful. Wastefullness a vice that was supremely frowned upon in the depression era generation and taught to many of their children. Many who forgot these things and did not teach them to their children have caused a cultural shift we must get back to. I for one will continue in that vein. For now, I bid you goodbye and good luck with your own locavore journey.

Sysco in market for local farm products

By Nancy Rollings Saul/THE COURIER
Mon May 11, 2009, 10:24 AM CDT


Sysco Central Illinois Inc. of Lincoln, an operating company of Sysco Corp., is partnering with central Illinois farmers in a new program to bring local food

Lincoln, Ill. -

Sysco Central Illinois Inc. of Lincoln, an operating company of Sysco Corp., is partnering with central Illinois farmers in a new program to bring local food products (produce, dairy and protein products) to its customers.

“We’ve been working on the project for about nine months,” Dean “Robbie” Robert Jr., president of Sysco Central Illinois, said last week by telephone. He said “BuyLocal,” the new project, was set up at the request of customers.

Sysco Central Illinois was formerly known as Robert’s Sysco Food Service, Inc., but the Texas-based parent company changed the name a few months ago.

“There has been a growing demand to support local business, eat healthier and — with fuel costs high — to reduce the carbon footprint,” Robert said.

BuyLocal is a virtual farmer’s market, via the Internet. Customers of Sysco Central Illinois can visit www.SyscoCI.com and click on the BuyLocal link to obtain a user name and password.

The site showcases locally grown fresh produce, dairy and protein items that are available for purchase and delivered with the regular Sysco delivery.

“There will be seasonal products, but a lot of the protein – chicken, eggs, beef – is produced year round and will be offered year round,” Robert said.

“Now, farmers take their products to farmer’s markets. They’re looking for ways to grow their markets.”

He said BuyLocal started last week with three area producers, Little Farm on the Prairie, Ropp Cheese Co. (which milks its own cows and makes its own cheese) and Living Springs Farm at Fairbury (producers of greens, lettuces and produce).

“During the next month, we’ll add another 10 or 12,” Robert said. The goal is to eventually buy from about 40 area farmers.

“The dynamic in developing the project was how to get farmers’ products to our warehouse and determine that it’s healthy.”

Robert said Sysco engaged a third party, Good Ag Practices (GAP), which heads two or three companies that inspect farms, to make sure their products are safe.

“We have a groundswell of interest in this from our customers,” he said.

Sysco is aworld leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home.

Farmers’ Market to return May 6

- Lincoln, IL - Lincoln Courier
Source: www.lincolncourier.com
Lincoln, Ill. -

A new season for the Lincoln Farmers’ Market begins May 6 in Latham Park.

A variety of fresh-picked, locally grown produce will be for sale, as well as baked goods, garden and landscape plants, fresh roasted coffee beans, dog treats and crafts.

The Wednesday evening hours, introduced last year, will return after drawing strong crowds in 2008.

“We changed the Wednesday hours to evening because so many people work now, and this was a way to catch them in the week and give them access to farm-fresh produce,” said Vickie Hum, market co-manager.

The Lincoln Farmers’ Market has operated every summer since the 1960s, when Humm’s uncle, Harold Sanders, served as market manager.

Market hours are 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

Latham Park is at the corner of Pekin and Kickapoo streets, one block north of the courthouse square.

Anyone interested in setting up a stand can contact Hum or market co-manager Doug Fink at 732-6962.

Organic chickens!

Prairierth Farm is taking orders for organic broilers - available in
June - early order price for 4 - 5 lb birds is $2.75/lb until June
first.

That' a good price so get in on it now!

For those of you who don't know, they live just outside Atlanta, IL and you can contact them through my links in the side bar.

Thanks Dave!