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Western Nevada County is dotted with locally owned food producers all of whom support our economy in ways out of area producers cannot. Money spent with locally owned, independent businesses finds its way to other local businesses, arts organizations, and community groups. Ken Hale from Think Local First points out that “because local businesses invest more money into their communities, it is not a stretch to realize that eating locally produced food supports our schools, artists - even little league baseball”.
Two of the region's principal CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms, Mountain Bounty on the San Juan Ridge and Nevada City's Riverhill, feed over 1000 people a week through their CSA boxes. Both rely on local providers for much of their supplies – Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, D&D Supply, B&C Hardware are examples – keeping money in our local economy. And the investment goes deeper. Mountain Bounty's John Tecklin and Riverhill's Alan Haight both stress the connection their customers have to the food. “When people who participate in our CSA come to understand that they can be sustained from a local source, they also come to care for the place where they live in a way that is fundamentally different. Their community is no longer just a place to live but is also a place to be cared for,” Haight said. Carlyle Miller, Mountain Bounty's CSA Manager, agrees. “Knowing that my food dollars are supporting my friends and local businesses is a huge reason that I love being a member of Mountain Bounty Farm.”
Nevada County Grown is a non-profit that provides resources to strengthen the bond between independent farmers and consumers. They list dozens of these producers in their Farm Guide making it easy for consumers to find local food. John Powers is the organization's president: “When people buy from local farmers and ranchers, that money stays in the local community and circulates multiple times - some studies say as much as three times longer than money spent on non-locally owned businesses.”
Buying your local food at local groceries helps drive the economy as well. Many of the region's independent grocers carry local options. BriarPatch Community Market offers an extensive selection of clearly labeled local food and menu ideas to turn you into a “locavore”, and dollars spent there support the community. BriarPatch employs 120 people and utilizes about two-dozen local businesses for contract work and supplies.
It is clear that choices made about food impact a region's economic health. Supporting local farms and businesses creates stable jobs, benefits community organizations, and helps preserve the unique flavor of the Nevada County Foothills. Tecklin is fond of saying that with every bite of one of his carrots, you invest in the local economy. Becoming a locavore is easy. Pick up a Farm Guide, start a garden, visit area restaurants serving local food, and get over to BriarPatch to sign up for the Eat Local Challenge and dig in.
Two of the region's principal CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms, Mountain Bounty on the San Juan Ridge and Nevada City's Riverhill, feed over 1000 people a week through their CSA boxes. Both rely on local providers for much of their supplies – Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, D&D Supply, B&C Hardware are examples – keeping money in our local economy. And the investment goes deeper. Mountain Bounty's John Tecklin and Riverhill's Alan Haight both stress the connection their customers have to the food. “When people who participate in our CSA come to understand that they can be sustained from a local source, they also come to care for the place where they live in a way that is fundamentally different. Their community is no longer just a place to live but is also a place to be cared for,” Haight said. Carlyle Miller, Mountain Bounty's CSA Manager, agrees. “Knowing that my food dollars are supporting my friends and local businesses is a huge reason that I love being a member of Mountain Bounty Farm.”
Nevada County Grown is a non-profit that provides resources to strengthen the bond between independent farmers and consumers. They list dozens of these producers in their Farm Guide making it easy for consumers to find local food. John Powers is the organization's president: “When people buy from local farmers and ranchers, that money stays in the local community and circulates multiple times - some studies say as much as three times longer than money spent on non-locally owned businesses.”
Buying your local food at local groceries helps drive the economy as well. Many of the region's independent grocers carry local options. BriarPatch Community Market offers an extensive selection of clearly labeled local food and menu ideas to turn you into a “locavore”, and dollars spent there support the community. BriarPatch employs 120 people and utilizes about two-dozen local businesses for contract work and supplies.
It is clear that choices made about food impact a region's economic health. Supporting local farms and businesses creates stable jobs, benefits community organizations, and helps preserve the unique flavor of the Nevada County Foothills. Tecklin is fond of saying that with every bite of one of his carrots, you invest in the local economy. Becoming a locavore is easy. Pick up a Farm Guide, start a garden, visit area restaurants serving local food, and get over to BriarPatch to sign up for the Eat Local Challenge and dig in.
