Locally Grown Foods By Taylor Ferebee and Kim Jurczyk

What is considered locally grown food?Food from farms and/or stores

that was obtained within a radius of 100 miles from the site.

In 2007, the term “locavore” was established. It means a person who only eats locally grown foods from their nearby stores or farms.

Fun Fact: Virginia only imports 15% of their produce but Hawaii imports 90% of their produce. Making us one of the most self-sustainable states in the country (due to our moderate climate).

Facts about Virginia farmsVirginia has more than

47,000 farmsThe average farm size is

171 acres and has assets worth more than $1 million.

About 90% of Virginia farms are owned and operated by individuals or families.

About 25% of Virginia farms share the farm income with multiple households.

Helping locally grown foodsThe office of farmland preservation, established in

2001, to help the reversal of lost farmland and to help the production in Virginia of farmland grown goods.

5 goalsTo create programs to educate the public about the

preservation of farmlandEstablish and support local purchasesHelp farmers with preservation effortsHelp establish additional farmland policies and programsBringing together aspiring and retiring farmersThis has made it easier for farmers to continue their

businesses making it that much easier to grow local.

What local farms growPeanuts, Pork, Chicken,

Beef, Eggs, Butter, Peanut Butter, Syrup (non-maple), Seafood, Oranges, Coffee Beans, Collards, Dry Beans, Kale, Mustard Greens, Mushrooms, Apples, Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Milk, Buttermilk, Cheese, Goat Cheese, Yogurt, Ice-cream, any nuts/seeds (hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts), Rice, Rye, Soybeans, Oats, Millets, Corn, Buckwheat, Barley, Pickles, Molasses, Honey, Flour, Pasta, and Dried Fruits.

Food Pyramid: What your diet should consist of

Food Pyramid explainedAccording to the food

pyramid, your diet should mainly consist of grains and wheat.

Since these items grow all-year round and are the 7th largest commodity of Virginia it is possible to live off of locally grown foods.

Ideas for the Locally Grown LuncheonTaste sells boxes specifically form locally grown farms such as

cheese, bread, and peanuts. (Newport News), Fresh Market tells you exactly where they get their locally grown produce(in Williamsburg and Port Warwick), Food Herbs and More (in Yorktown), Yorktown Market Days.

Heidi’s Homegrown and Organic (LocalHarvest.com) in Williamsburg. Go to LocalHarvest.com and click on the box left to the product/produce. It will direct you to recipes made with that specific product/produce.

You can order food items then pick up the produce/product in between 2-3 days. All meat is acquired through local farms that do not use hormones or genetically modifying organisms.

Be at the Toano Volunteer Fireman's Farmers Market, directly across from the Fire Station on Richmond Road in Toano, 10:00a.m. - Noon.  Saturday, January 14th.

Dish IdeasMack and cheeseChicken parmesanAnd pasta dish with or

without tomatoes sauce (lasagna, spaghetti, pasta salad)

Home-made salsa and chipsPeanut Butter and JellyPeanut butter cookiesSaladAny seafood dishAny dish involving chicken,

beef, or pork

The EndI pledge, on my honor, that I have neither

pledged nor received help on this work. Signed Taylor Ferebee and Kim Jurczyk.