Buy Fresh Buy Local Holiday Guide Available

(Leesburg, VA - October 28, 2008) Continuing its strong commitment to the local foods movement and farmers, the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) in partnership with the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development has published a Buy Fresh Buy Local Holiday Guide to help residents support our farms as part of their holiday shopping.

The Guide lists local farms and producers in Loudoun County where Christmas trees and decorations can be purchased. Furthermore, meat, poultry, dairy, produce and specialty food producers are listed in the Guide. This is the second publication in which PEC has partnered with Loudoun County to support the rural economy. The Guide is available at numerous public locations throughout Loudoun County or can be found on line at: http://www.buylocalvirginia.org/bfbl/localChapters.php.

Here are Some Reasons to Choose Fresh, Local Food:

You'll Safeguard Your Family's Health
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe food from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations. Buy food from local farmers you trust.

Food Travels on Average 1,500-2,500 Miles From Farm to Table
Fruits and vegetables shipped from distant states and countries can spend as many as seven to fourteen days in transit before they arrive in the supermarket. Most fruit and vegetable varieties sold in supermarkets are chosen for their ability to withstand industrial harvesting equipment and extended travel, not taste. This results in little variety in the plants grown.

You'll Get Exceptional Taste and Freshness with Local Foods
Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries. Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life.

You'll Protect the Environment
Local food doesn't have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials. Buying local food also helps to make farming more profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive. When you buy local food, you vote with your food dollar. This ensures that family farms in your community will continue to thrive and that healthy, flavorful, plentiful food will be available for future generations.

You'll Strengthen Your Local Economy
Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food builds relationships based on understanding and trust, the foundation of strong communities. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension there is a critical economic impact from increasing the amount of local food purchased in the area. If each household in Loudoun County spent $10 per week on locally produced foods and farm products, it would generate $48.5 million annual dollars of direct economic impact to the region's economy, farms, families and communities!

For more information, please visit www.buylocalvirginia.org.

Robert Lazaro
Director of Communications
571.225.0198