California is importing the items that used to grow well there. Its like Iowa importing corn.
Local food proponents have often said that a day would come where the costs and logistics of trucking and flying food to consumers from far away would become at best cost prohibitive or at worst- impossible. The problem is, it is going to look like a few bad seasons of drought and other problems before we realize we have reached that point.
Meanwhile, the energy and resources spent to strengthen local food systems will pay dividends for generations in a way that paying more and more for the same truck and jet fuel will not.
In Montgomery County, forward thinking leaders set aside land close to growing population centers specifically for agriculture. The Ag Reserve is a marvel- the current long time farm families are doing their bit to feed the region as they have for generations. But there is space and demand and literally hunger (most small farmers in the Reserve partner with local food banks) for more locally grown food. The question of whether we need to produce more farmers and food close by is settled- now we work on the "how".Here's How MCA is working to bolster local food production:
Land Link- Linking Farmers and Landowners for long term leases to expand existing farms and start new ones.
New Farm Pilot- Partnering with the County, we are taking new farmers and giving them the training, and mentoring to get started and then planting them right here in the Ag Reserve.
Producers Listserve and Producers Summits- We are building a stronger community among local farmers.
Two ways you can help:
- Support your Local Farmer- frequent markets or go the next step and join a CSA.
- Become a Member of MCA- Annual membership is only $25 to support our work to grow farms and food on the edge of our growing cities.