Around here, the locally sourced farm-to-table movement enjoys its’ largest boon in the summertime.  People from every corner of the state flock to local farms, wineries, and restaurants where homegrown food and beverages are offered.

Farm-to-table (or farm-to-fork) refers to, in the food safety field, the stages of the production of food: harvesting, storage, processing, packaging, sales, and consumption.  Farm-to-table also refers to a movement concerned with producing food locally and delivering that food to local consumers. Linked to the local food movement, it’s promoted by some in the agriculture, food service, and restaurant communities. It may also be associated with organic farming initiatives, sustainable agriculture, and community-supported agriculture.

locally grown

Kentucky has over 84,000 farms; the fifth largest number of farms per state in the country.  Among the farmers in Kentucky who grow fruit and vegetables for sale, direct marketing has emerged as the dominant marketing channel, particularly the use of farmers’ markets.  The number of farmers’ markets in Louisville alone has tripled over the past ten years.

Farmers’ markets account for about one-quarter of all of Kentucky’s farm fruit and vegetable sales.  These amazing facts were determined by a study done to promote building Louisville’s local food economy.  The study also addressed Agritourism and its growing popularity in the state of Kentucky.  The Office of Agri-tourism reports that there are over 260 agri-tourism businesses in Kentucky.  These businesses include farms, distilleries, wineries, and agri-entertainment.  Sharing headlines with the farm-to-table movement is another component of buying and producing food locally.  This phenomenon is referred to as “food miles.”

Food miles is a term that refers to the distance food is transported from the time of its production or harvest until it reaches the consumer.  There are definitely heated debates about the impact on the environment that result from excessive shipping coupled with air and road miles logged to transport food all over the world.

Google “food miles”, you will be fascinated by the debate.  Proponents on both sides of this issue agree on one thing. It has to start locally.  The decisions that we make collectively as a community, as good stewards of the environment and our own personal health begin where you are standing right now.  Home.  In your own backyard.  The best things to do at first; keep it simple.  Start a garden in your back yard.  Join a vegetable co-op.  Visit the farmers’ market.  Compost.  Learn how to can. Patronize restaurants that feature locally produced food.  There are so many things you can do.  There is a popular bumper sticker you may see around town. “ Think Globally.  Act Locally.”  They may be on to something.

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