It seems many people see buying organic / local foods is something done by others. What “others” is, I have no clue. But, I imagine it is entirely based on perceptions and stereo types such as: young hipsters, DINKS, “smarter” or “prettier”, urban-over educated, liberal loving and nearly socialist, Pruis or not American made/truck drivers, and other completely superficial and baseless things.

While there is probably a grain of truth to all of those stereotypes, the facts paint an entirely different picture.

According to a recent posting at Save Our Food, the USDA’s 2008 Organic Production Survey reports Virginia’s 180 certified or exempt organic farms occupied a total of 12,308 acres with 5,884 acres used for harvested cropland and 5,164 acres used for pastureland.

For the people owning, working on, and working with those 180 certified or exempt organic farms, ”40 percent of Virginia organic sales took place within 100 miles of the farm; nearly half took place within 500 miles of the farm.”

I gotta repeat this:

Half of the sales for the food from those 180 farms happens within 500 miles, a day’s drive, of those farms.

And;

“40 percent of Virginia organic sales took place within 100 miles of the farm…”

So, what does this mean?

It means that when you make an effort to buy organic and/or local foods, you are giving your dollars to your neighbors!

Still think rganic or local farming is something reserved for “them”?

Remember:

Local farming is “… as personal as your NEXT MEAL.”

P.S. The Virginia Farm Bureau’s website www.SaveOurFood.org is a great resource for information about farming in Virginia as well as finding local farmers, farmer’s markets, and CSA’s where you can receive locally produced food.