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Local food getting larger audience Date published: 6/13/2009
BY EMILY BATTLE The "eat local" movement usually evokes images of shoppers traipsing through neighborhood farmers markets, but as the trend has taken on staying power, local food is getting access to a larger stage. Local restaurants, regional supermarkets and even some national chains are making efforts that could get local food onto people's plates without requiring a trip to the farmers market. This year, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it would increase its efforts to use local produce when possible. The chain has committed to getting 35 percent of at least one produce item from local farmers. In the Fredericksburg area, the local item is peppers, grown by Parker Farms in Westmoreland County. Chipotle first started trying to set up a network of local suppliers three years ago, and spokeswoman Katherine Newell Smith said the process is labor-intensive. The chain has to first find growers near its more than 860 stores, then determine whether they produce enough volume to serve the restaurants, what their quality standards are like, how delivery will work and a number of other issues. But the longer Chipotle works on these issues, the easier it gets, and the shorter the distance gets between producers and stores, Newell Smith said. "As we expand our network of farmers, local becomes even more local," she said. "There's some times when we're going as much as 200 miles, and sometimes a little over that, but it's just a matter of supply." Jimmy Carter, sales manager at Parker Farms, said he's hearing from more retailers that want to market local products this season. It's not exactly a new trend for this farm, which grew from a pick-your-own operation in Maryland in 1974. The difference now is that it's seeing more businesses want to market the local angle. "Everybody is looking to promote local," Carter said. That includes supermarkets. Ukrop's has bought from Virginia farmers for years, but last year it stepped up its promotion of those ties, putting up signs telling folks to "Take the Local Route." Wegmans also has made an effort for years to buy from farms near its stores.
Don't forget that there are also local farmers that sell various meet products here in town too. Some even use "organic" pracitices but don't label that way so they don't have to charge extra for the label. Most also have products that are not given hormones and are grass bassed meats which are leaner, better for you and better tasting!
t's about time local (and nationals doing business locally) recognize that "grown local" is best in quality and flavor. Patronize these businesses to show your support.
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