Eat Local, Buy Local: Vermont State Employees' CSA Program

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Why should we eat and buy local foods?
  • Fresh food tastes really, REALLY good.
  • Foods that don’t travel long distances can be bred for best taste, not for traits like durability that help them ship well.
  • Buying food within your community is a way to learn about the farms and farmers who produce it.
  • Local food is an investment in your region’s working landscape
  • Local food can reduce energy demands, from the equipment used in the fields to transportation to the amount of packaging.
  • Local farmers carry on their region’s food traditions, including through raising heirloom varieties of products that are not commonly found in the commercial marketplace.
  • Buying local food keeps money in the local economy.
  • Anyone interested in where their food comes from will find that eating local food is a great way to learn about every meal!
  • Eating 100% local makes us break our normal mealtime routines and look more closely at the food around us.
  • 100% local meals unlock the creative cook inside us (or at least encourage us to learn some basic cooking skills!)
  • Looking for 100% local recipes is a great way to explore what earlier generations ate in times when local was the only option.
  • A 100% local day can save money by cutting out the short cuts of preprepared foods.
* Provided by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Did you know that the State employees will now have access to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA's) at the workplace?



The State of Vermont Workplace CSA Program provides space and opportunity for employees to access local food offered through VT CSA farms. CSA shares will be delivered to designated state building drop sites every Thursday afternoon, beginning in May 2012. This program offers the opportunity for employees to support local farmers and conveniently access healthy, nutritious and locally produced food delivered to their workplace.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, VT State Employees’ Wellness Program, and Building and General Services are piloting a workplace CSA delivery program for the 2012 growing season to employees working in Addison, Washington and Windsor counties. Statewide participation by all CSA farms and State of VT employees is envisioned for 2013.

Are you a State employee in Addison, Washington or Windsor county? Want to learn more or sign-up for a CSA at your workplace? If so, contact Abbey Willard who is the VT Agency of Agriculture's Food and Markets Local Foods Administrator. To reach Abbey, contact her by phone: 802-828-3829
or email: abbey.willard@state.vt.us

Healthy wishes,
Marilyn, Maura, Jessica and Alissa
Your Vermont State Employees' Wellness Program staff

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