Maryland ’s fifth one-year Buy Local Challenge kicked off Thursday at Governor Martin O’Malley ’s mansion with a cookout decked out with — you guessed it — local foods . After the event , more than 3,000 Marylanders had signal a pledge to participate in Buy Local Challenge Week ( July 23 to 31 , 2011 ) , in which they committed to consuming at least one local product each Clarence Shepard Day Jr. of the workweek .
“ It ’s a profits - profits program , ” says Christine Bergmark , executive director at the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission , an organization helping to coordinate the week ’s events . “ The farmer deliver the goods , the consumer win , politicians win — everyone win . … It ’s a small investment you’re able to make with your dollar and it keepsfarms in business . ”
And Maryland , along with the rest of the U.S. , stay on to face the job of tilled land going . grant to the USDA ’s 2007 Agriculture Census , the amount of tilled land in Maryland has dropped by virtually 42 pct since 1959 to slightly more than 2 million acres .
The goal of Buy Local Week , however , is to put farm - smart product at the forefront of consumer ’ mind , giving excess visibility to local farm , increase visitation tofarmers ’ marketsand get under one’s skin citizenry to think about where their nutrient descend from .
“ Our farmers say there is a capitulum in sales in the fourth dimension around and after the Buy Local Challenge , ” Bergmark says . “ It ’s our Leslie Townes Hope to get people disclose to the idea [ of buying locally ] and trying it . ”
Not only does buy from local farmers help the U.S. meetnational health goals , it also helps to advance the local economy . If households pass just $ 12 a week for eight weeks on local product , $ 10.7 billion are reinvested now to the nation ’s farms , enjoin Bergmark , pulling from U.S. Census data . Plus , she pronounce , local farmers are potential to reinvest that money into the local community of interests . For example , when you buy your cheese from the local dairy farm farmer , he might use that money to buy feed from a local farm store .
During this year ’s Buy Local Challenge , an emphasis is being placed on the workplace . Marylanders are encourage to take the official Buy Local Challenge pledge as an office and canenter a pic contest , showcasing how they as an authority intend to fulfill the pledge . The most unique entry from a Marylander will receive a catered dejeuner for up to 20 citizenry and a gift field goal of Maryland farm products .
The SMADC and its married person , the Maryland Agricultural Marketing Professionals , are also encourage participant in the challenge nationwide . Interest in the challenge has already been return in Virginia , Washington , Florida and Washington , D.C. , Bergmark says . Those outside Maryland wanting to elevate buying local in their work can downloadpromotional materialsfrom the Buy Local Challenge internet site .
“ We trust people will corrupt local all class round and desire masses will buy local while product is abundant across the U.S. , ” Bergmark says .
