Of the approximately one billion dollars Sarasota County residents spend every year on food, most is spent on food shipped in from outside our community.
However, if we all committed to buying just 10% of our food directly from local farmers, a 2006 study showed that would generate at least $80 million in additional farm income annually. In these tough economic times, this would create thousands of new green jobs and greatly stimulate our local economy.
This is why Transition Sarasota has created the 10% Local Food Shift Pledge. We are asking you to pledge to grow or buy at least 10% of your food locally – and then follow through. If you’re not sure where to start, you can locate an abundance of local food producers and suppliers through our Eat Local Directory.
If you’re already at 10%, thank you! Please take this pledge as a challenge to increase your local food consumption by another 10% or more. By doing so, you will not only be providing healthier food for yourself and your family, you will also be fostering a healthier local economy and planet at the same time.
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