July 9, 2007...7:50 pm
100 Mile Manitoba
It’s amazing what a simple glance through the paper at lunchtime can teach you.
At lunch today, I happened to see an article in the Winnipeg Free Press about 100 Mile Manitoba, a group of 100+ people who are pledging to follow the 100 mile diet for three months starting in September. I jotted down the link to their website, and when I checked it later I was floored to see a huge list of local food sources that I hadn’t previously known about. Wow!
It’s still a bit irking that there doesn’t seem to be any easy way to get locally-grown meats other than visiting the farmer directly. With my work schedule, that becomes a bit difficult. However, we’re going to try to hit up the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market within the next few weeks to see what they have. It’s waaaay down at the opposite end of the city, though, so it’ll be quite a trek.
I was pleased, however, to see my basic philosophy outlined a lot more succinctly than I’ve been able to put it, and they credit Locavores with the wording:
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then organic. This is one of the most readily available alternatives in the market and making this choice protects the environment and your body from harsh chemicals and hormones.
If not ORGANIC, then Family farm. When faced with Kraft or Cabot cheeses, Cabot, a dairy co-op in Vermont, is the better choice. Supporting family farms helps to keep food processing decisions out of the hands of corporate conglomeration.
If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business. Basics like coffee and bread make buying local difficult. Try a local coffee shop or bakery to keep your food dollar close to home.
If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Terroir, which means ‘taste of the Earth’. Purchase foods famous for the region they are grown in and support the agriculture that produces your favorite non-local foods such as Brie cheese from Brie, France or parmesan cheese from Parma, Italy.
And even better, the article reports that four restaurants have signed on to do “100-mile meals” once a week. We may need to look into that!
1 Comment
July 10, 2007 at 9:01 am
I like those additional suggestions. I’ve spoken to a few people who wanted to try the 100 mile diet but were running into roadblocks very early on. I will make sure they see this.
Leave a Reply