Dear editor:
Well, it's August, and the local farmer's market is in full swing. Farmers from all over the county, and even a couple from nearby New York come to the public parking lot in downtown Warren (between 2nd and 3rd Ave. behind the library) to sell their wares on Saturday mornings from 8am noon. I recommend checking it out. One of the great things about living in an area with so much agriculture is that we have direct access to farm fresh food. Delicious fruits, vegetables, meat, and animal products like milk, cheese, and eggs. According to www.sustainabletable.org the average American meal travels 1,500 miles before it gets to your dinner table; resulting in food that is less nutritious and less fresh than food bought and sold locally. In addition, small farms often use fewer chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.) than large scale industrial farms.
If you are unable to make it to downtown Warren on Saturdays from 8am-noon you can go to www.warrenag.org and click on Warren County Farm Market Directory to find out who sells what from where. It's a little extra effort to travel to the farms that sell direct and will also take some planning in order to be efficient, but once you get a routine down you'll notice your meals will taste better, and your health will thank you.
It's better for all concerned to buy direct from the source. Better for the farmer, better for the consumers, and also better for the environment. It will cost a little more but it's worth the environmental and health benefits. I believe small farms can also contribute to healthy relationships within your family. Gather the kids and some large mixing bowls and find a farm where you can pick your own produce. (Again, visiting www.warrenag.org can help you find these locations.)
No cell phones, no video games, no Internet. Just good ol'-fashioned quality time.
You can read more about sustainable agriculture at www.warrenag.org, www.sierraclub.org/truecostoffood, www.eatwild.com, and www.buylocalpa.org.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Gomory, Warren