Steven Knudsen/On the Farm | Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2008 12:00 am
Searching for the best local strawberries on the Central Coast? Wondering what you/re going to find in season at your local farmers market?
You are not alone. Until now, there were few user-friendly Web resources on which to find locally grown products. That, however, is about to change.
Purchasing locally is about to become dramatically easier as the Central Coast Grown project announces its new Web site geared toward marketing local farmers and ranchers and their operations to the community.
Based upon a free database built for farmers and ranchers to aid in marketing their goods, the CCG Web site provides a searchable resource for consumers looking for local options for foods they currently purchase from out-of-town providers.
Local farmers and ranchers are invited to submit their business information to be entered into the database, free of charge.
The listing on the Web site will be networked with other farmers and ranchers to form a comprehensive network of county growers. The commodities produced are then inserted into the searchable listing.
From apples to yams, the Web site can be searched for fresh, locally grown and produced products. When queried, the system will yield a listing of farmers and ranchers who produce the specific items along with directions to the ag operations and additional information about the operations.
The CCG Web site serves as a conduit to connect not only local consumers but also food buyers from schools, hospitals and other institutions.
Many local institutional food buyers have considered purchasing locally and have had success in the past. For most, however, it is difficult to find a consistent supply year-round.
This site will connect the food buyers with the products they are looking for at the volume they need. The site also will encourage seasonal eating options and alternatives to foods that may not be available.
Boosting the economy
The Central Coast Grown program was developed by the Central Coast Ag Network in 2003.
CCAN is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of supporting sustainable local agriculture to ensure a wholesome, diverse and nourishing supply of food and other agriculture products for residents of the Central Coast.
The board of directors consists of a diverse group of agricultural, environmental and community-related organizations that recognize the importance of working collectively to promote buying locally.
Studies have shown that purchasing even a small percentage of locally grown and produced products dramatically aids in the continued
viability of the agriculture community and those from which the products are purchased.
Researchers suggest that dollars spent locally are much more likely to remain in the community when compared to dollars spent at businesses that do not have local ties.
Thus, purchasing locally creates a ripple effect. Each time a transaction is made in the community, a portion goes to the city and county to sustain and enhance the local infrastructure.
In a county of roughly 260,000 people, if each day residents found a way to divert just ,1 to locally grown goods, at the end of the year consumers would have put more than ,100 million in additional revenue back into the local economy.
That could mean great things for local governments and public utilities. For that reason, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors believes in the mission of the Central Coast Grown project.
For the second consecutive year, county supervisors have contributed ,10,000 to the organization to promote locally grown food, fiber and flowers.
BPurchasing locally directly supports our farmers and ranchers and contributes to the preservation of this county/s rural character,C said 3rd District Supervisor Jerry Lenthall. BThe county depends on finding new ways to market these family operations to the general public, and CCAN is the right organization to do it.C
Educational ties
Central Coast Grown shares a strong tie with the University of California Cooperative Extension in updating and maintaining the Farm Resource section on the new Web site.
In that section, community members can search for tips and suggestions for growing crops and raising animals on the Central Coast.
From information on alternative energy and composting to tips for pruning your apple tree, the site offers solutions to everyday problems of both large and small operations.
BOur Cooperative Extension advisors and staff in San Luis Obispo County are looking forward to participating with Central Coast Grown in connecting our local community to the research-based information of the University of California that can help to support a thriving and viable San Luis Obispo agricultural community; one that has a diversity of profitable farms that enhance the environment, enrich our local culture and improve the quality of life for both producers and consumers of our local agricultural products,C said Mary Bianchi, horticulture farm advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension.
In addition, the CCG Web site links to local restaurants that purchase their ingredients locally, giving diners an option to eat at restaurants currently purchasing from local farmers and ranchers.
For those who want to stay home to eat, recipes are provided by local families.
A calendar of events also encourages community organizations to post their upcoming events that promote purchasing locally.
There is no limit to how large the Central Coast Grown site will become; the more farmers, restaurants and grocery stores that add their businesses, the more inclusive the site will grow.
BUltimately, that/s the goal 7 to create a site that will provide a resource to aid in connecting local farmers with local consumers,C said Mallory Tipple, CCAN president. BI hope that everyone in the community takes the time to visit the site to shop the Central Coast.C
Steven Knudsen is outreach coordinator for the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. He can be reached at 543-3654
February 24, 2008