Co-op Grocers Challenge Shoppers to Participate in Eat Local, America!
Challenge Provides Tools and Tips to Eat and Enjoy More Local Food!
Iowa City, Iowa (PRWEB) June 11, 2009
National Cooperative Grocers Association (http://www. ncga. coop) and its member food co-ops nationwide are challenging shoppers to put their money where their mouths - and food producers - are, and take the second national Eat Local, America! (http://www. eatlocalamerica. coop) challenge.
Participants can demonstrate their commitment to eating local food at a variety of levels by signing up at their local retail food co-op or registering online at www. eatlocalamerica. coop. On the Web site, individuals will find tips, tools, recipes and guest blogs on the healthful, social and economic benefits of eating local - as well as a map of the nearest participating co-op.
Seasoned locavores are encouraged to commit to eating four out of five meals from local food - roughly 80 percent of their diets. Those who are just starting out are encouraged to commit to five meals a week made with local foods.
"There are many benefits to eating local food," said Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer for National Cooperative Grocers Association "It's good for the economy, because money from each transaction stays in the region. And it connects residents to the people who grow or produce their food, while helping to support family farms."
"It's also respectful of the environment because food doesn't travel as far," Shrader added. "Plus, local food is more nutritious and simply tastes better, because it's often harvested or processed the same day it arrives at the co-op."
Although "local" is a buzzword used by many retailers, food co-ops have for years cultivated reciprocal, long-term relationships with local growers and producers. This allows co-ops to offer shoppers a convenient connection to fresh and delicious food of the highest quality.
Dozens of food co-ops coast-to-coast are hosting Eat Local, America! All are members of National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) - a business services cooperative representing retail food co-ops nationwide.
Since peak harvest times vary throughout the nation, challenge durations vary. Most participating co-ops will conduct the challenge based on their region as follows:
June 15 - July 15 South, Southwest and California
July 15 - August 15 Plains, Midwest and Northwest
August 15 - September 15 Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Upper Midwest
Beginning today, food lovers can learn about participating Eat Local, America! initiatives at www. eatlocalamerica. coop.
About NCGA
National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), founded in 1999, is a business services cooperative for consumer-owned food co-ops located throughout the United States. NCGA is owned by 111 food co-ops operating more than 140 stores in 32 states with combined annual sales of over $1 billion. NCGA helps unify natural food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and ultimately offer more value to natural food co-op shoppers everywhere. For a map of co-op member locations, visit www. ncga. coop/member-stores (http://www. ncga. coop/member-stores). To learn more about NCGA, click here. To learn more about co-ops visit www. go. coop.
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