Giovanni Manfroni Today is the first day of the World Localization Day – #EatLocalChallenge. We are so excited to join Local Futures for our first challenge – which will take part between June 15-July 15. From Alaska to Zanzibar, market organizers purposefully bring together producers to allow consumers to source daily provisions locally. These products are fresh, travel fewer kilometers, reflect the “taste of place,” and enrich local economies with direct purchases from local farmers and fishers.
We’re challenging World Farmers Markets Coalition members and followers around the globe to invite their market shoppers to join our Eat Local Challenge. What is the challenge? It’s simple! Market visitors commit to purchase a meal that is 100% local!
Are you ready to join us in celebrating our local vibrance? You can do this by posting photos and videos of products and people at markets and farms in your local area.
Why eat local? Let’s look at it from the point of view of the pillars of sustainability from a social, economic, and environmental perspective. Localization betters livelihoods of farmers, rebuilds rural areas and communities, all while keeping the health of humans and our planet in mind. According to Local Futures, farmers are only taking home about 10% of the total price that we pay, whereas at local farmers markets, they take home closer to 80% (check out Local Futures Youtube Channel). At the same time, these small farmers are fostering 95% of our planet’s agricultural biodiversity – along with restoring our soil, revitalizing communities, and helping to create more sustainable diets.
Reflecting on our recent meetings in Torino, we spent a lot of time talking about the power of storytelling in communicating about building local food systems. World Localization Day’s #EatLocalChallenge is a fun way to participate in your local food system and share your story!
Can’t think of something to post – try one of these ideas!
- Post a unique local product to tell the story of that product and how it represents something in your community.
- Post your latest local find! What new #eatlocal product is new to you this year?
- Get to know one of your local vendors and post about them!
Remember to tag us!!
- Facebook: World Farmers Markets Coalition and Local Futures
- Instagram: @WorldFarmersMarketsCoalition and @LocalFutures_ on Instagram
- Hashtags: #WorldLocalizationDay and #EatLocalChallenge
by Christina Ermilio
