[SusDet Announce] Eating Locally in Mich. Winter

[Claire Maitre]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Farms Without Harm [mailto:fwh at ameritech.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 2, 2007 07:55 PM
> To: farms.without.harm at ns-mr26.netsolmail.com, 'gail'
> Subject: Jan. 31 Event Explores Eating Locally in Mich. Winter
>
> Below and attached as a PDF is info about the next Farms Without  
> Harm event.  Feel free to print out, send out and generally spread  
> the word!
>
> January 2, 2007                                          Media  
> Contact:  Gail Philbin
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         
> 616-558-6490
>
> Debut of new online shopping coop highlights evening of local food  
> tips
>
>   Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Eating locally produced foods during a  
> Michigan winter can be a challenge, even to the most dedicated  
> souls. Farmers markets are closed, and unless you’ve preserved the  
> summer’s bounty and stockpiled locally raised meat in the freezer,  
> you’re dependent on store-bought food from other states or  
> countries.
>
>    However, West Michiganders now have a growing number of options  
> available to them, including two winter farmers markets and an  
> online shopping coop, that will be explored at “How to Eat  
> Locally…in the Winter…in Michigan,” a presentation of Farms  
> Without Harm and the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council.   
> The event takes place Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 7-9 p.m. at the  
> Wealthy Theater, 1130 Wealthy St. SE. The suggested admission is $5.
>
>    The highlight of “How to Eat Locally…” is the unveiling of  
> the West Michigan Cooperative (WMC), an online farmers market that  
> aims to keep local farmers and consumers connected beyond the  
> traditional growing season. Still in the start-up phase, the coop  
> currently involves about ten local producers and two dozen  
> customers but has the potential to encompass hundreds of producers  
> and customers in the region.
>
>    Organizers of the WMC will introduce the concept and recruit new  
> members for the next monthly shopping cycle as well as volunteers  
> to help with the ordering logistics.  They are: Gerard Adams of  
> Media Rare, a communications and exhibition design firm; Tom Cary  
> of the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council; Paul DeLeeuw of  
> DeLeeuw Digital, LLC, a web programming and consulting firm, and  
> Gail Philbin of Farms Without Harm.
>
>    “How to Eat Locally…” will also feature information about  
> two new winter farmers markets in the region and includes a talk by  
> Chris Bedford of the Sweetwater Local Foods Market in Muskegon. He  
> and Cary will also discuss what “local food” means in a Michigan  
> winter and ways to extend the harvest by freezing, drying, canning  
> and other preservation methods.
>
>    A screening of the film “Broken Limbs” opens the evening. The  
> 57-minute documentary looks at the plight of American apple growers  
> in the age of globalization and offers ways to create  
> sustainability in the United States.
>
>    Farms Without Harm is a network of small farmers, concerned  
> citizens and non-profit groups that support sustainable, humane  
> farming in Michigan. Formed in 2005, the group seeks to educate the  
> public about the negative impact of factory farms on our health,  
> the environment, local economy and animal welfare and offer local  
> alternatives to the industrial food system.
>
>    The Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council is an expanding  
> collaborative of chefs, environmental and religious organizations,  
> planners, farmers, community gardeners, conservationists,  
> educators, health professionals that seeks to broaden the dialogue  
> about our present food system and advocate for and create  
> alternatives. For more information, visit www.foodshed.net.
>
>    For details about the Jan. 31 event, visit  
> www.farmswithoutharm.org or call 616-558-6490.   ###
>
>
>

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