Bleu Plate’s commitment to local growers
We believe very stongly in supporting local farmers and our local economy. We are blessed to be situated in such a fertile farming valley with so many farmers commited to sustainable and organic farming. With such bountiful harvests in our backyard it would be shame to not take advantage of all they have to offer. We also hope to be a place of education about local farmers and markets. Below is information about local markets and sources for information on sustainalble farming and it’s benefits. We are still in the process of adding more farmers and their pictures to the list but this will get you started.
SO MANY GOOD REASONS TO BUY LOCAL
PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture)
Pick Your Own
www.pafarm.com
www.localharvest.org

The Susquehanna Valley Growers' Market is new to Lewisburg as of summer 2005. What a wonderful addition it has been. Located in Hufnagle Park between 5th and 6th Streets in downtown Lewiburg. Friday from 2-6pm From June-Oct 29th. It gives everyone in the area a chance to meet wonderful local growers and producers, and support their farms. Look for Phoebe and her red cart stocking up for the Bleu Plate every Friday afternoon!
	************Cow-a-Hen Farms***************** Bill Callahan, owner of cow-a-hen farms is always a friendly face to encounter at the Lewisburg Growers Market and Boalsburg market on Wednesdays. Bill is an active member of PASA and a commited substainable and organic farmer. He has meadow-raised beef, chicken, turkey, veal and turkey. Bill's wonderful pork chops were a huge hit on the summer menu at the Bleu Plate this year. Bill has developed a wonderful relation with his butcher and as a result has some of the nicest cuts of meat you will find anywhere. Looking for something special or a recipie, ask him, I have never been disapointed! Bill has also been generous enough to donate two turkeys for the past two years to our annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner here at the Bleu Plate. His turkeys are the best I have ever tasted. Feel free to contact him to order yours for your holiday feast. You will be happy you did. Cow-A-Hen Farm 1760 Centennial Road Mifflinburg, Pa 17844 (570) 966-2678

	**************Hartley’s Homestead**************** Here are a few words from the Hartley's about who they are: My husband, Paul and I and our 3 small children live at the homestead on the old Walnut Acres Farm. Although the business has been sold, the farm itself still belongs to the family. Paul's grandparents, Paul and Betty Keene are the founders of Walnut Acres. We feel so blessed to be here, to raise our family and carry on the long family tradition of farming in harmony with nature. We farm without chemicals, antibiotics or hormones. We believe it is important to support sustainable local farms whenever possible, and as a result help create sustainable communities. We treat all of our animals (and people) humanely and with respect Our crops are all certified organic, the entire farm has been organic since 1946. At present, our eggs and poultry are not certified organic, however the birds do graze on certified organic pastures. Our feed source is making every attempt to provide us with GMO-free feed, as we feel that genetic diversity is important, and we should let Mother Nature do the modifying, not the chemical companies. Having 3 small kids (9, 6 and 20 months), we stay very busy, and therefore, are farming on a very small scale at the present time. Paul has a full-time job off the farm, so we do what we can. As of right now, we have a small market garden where some certified organic veggies and herbs are growing. We have pasture-raised hens who lay the most beautiful brown, white and green shelled eggs. The eggs are very wholesome, with yolks much more golden than the grocery store eggs. This is due to the hens being able to graze on pasture, and enjoy sunshine and fresh air. In addition to grazing, the hens are fed shelled (feed) corn and food scraps from the kitchen (which they absolutely LOVE!). We have begun our first year raising pastured broiler chickens and turkeys. The meat from these birds is superior in flavor, due to their grass-based diet, sunshine and fresh air.

There are so many good reasons to buy local:

YOU'LL GET EXCEPTIONAL TASTE AND FRESHNESS.
Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries.
Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life.

YOU'LL STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food
builds relationships based on understanding and trust, the foundation of strong communities.

YOU'LL SUPPORT ENDANGERED FAMILY FARMS.
There's never been a more critical time to support your farming neighbors. With each local food purchase, you
ensure that more of your money spent on food goes to the farmer.

YOU'LL SAFEGUARD YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH.
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe food from farmers
who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations.
Buy food from local farmers you trust.

YOU'LL PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
Local food doesn't have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials. Buying local food
also helps to make farming more profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive.
When you buy local food, you vote with your food dollar. This ensures that family farms in your community will continue
to thrive and that healthy, flavorful, plentiful food will be available for future generations.

FOOD TRAVELS ON AVERAGE 1,500-2500 MILES FROM FARM TO TABLE. [1]
• Most fresh fruits and vegetables produced in the U.S. are shipped from California, Florida, and Washington. [2]
• Fruits and vegetables shipped from distant states and countries can spend as many as seven to fourteen days in
transit before they arrive in the supermarket. [3]
• Most fruit and vegetable varieties sold in supermarkets are chosen for their ability to withstand industrial harvesting
equipment and extended travel not taste. This results in little variety in the plants grown.

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE IN FRESH, LOCAL FOOD AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!
• Premium Taste. Locally grown fruits and vegetables are usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested. Produce
picked and eaten at the height of ripeness has exceptional flavor and, when handled properly, is packed with nutrients.
• Maximum Freshness. By choosing local produce at farm stands, farmers markets, pick-your-own farms and grocery
stores, you pay for taste, not transportation and packaging.
• Unique Varieties. Local farmers often grow a large assortment of unique varieties of products to provide the most
flavorful choices throughout the season.

FAMILY FARMS ARE AN AMERICAN TRADITION IN DANGER OF FADING AWAY.
• Family farms are an important part of the American tradition of self-sufficiency, forming the bedrock for
communities across the U.S.
• Since 1935, the U.S. has lost 4.7 million farms. [4] Fewer than one million Americans now claim farming as a
primary occupation. [5]
• Farmers in 2002 earned their lowest real net cash income since 1940. [6] Meanwhile corporate agribusiness profits
have nearly doubled (increased 98%) since 1990. [7]
• Large corporations increasingly dominate U.S. food production. Four large firms control over 80% of beef slaughter,
59% of pork packing, and 50% of broiler chicken production. [8]

FAMILY FARMERS ARE THE HEART OF AMERICA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES.
• Local family farmers spend their money with local merchants. The money stays in town where it benefits everyone
and builds a stronger local economy. Independent, family-owned farms supply more local jobs and contribute to the
local economy at higher rates than do large, corporate-owned farms.
• Eating locally grown, healthy food strengthens your family and community.
• Local farmers who sell direct to consumers receive a larger share of the profit for their food.

BUYING LOCAL IS THIS EASY:
• Find a farmer, farmers' market, farm stand, CSA, restaurant, retailer, or other local food outlet near you:
search in regions nationally, www.foodroutes.org/localfood/.
• Shop at your local farmers' market or farm stand for the freshest, best tasting food available. It s easy to find local food.
There are over 3,100 farmers' markets in the U.S.A
• Encourage your local grocery stores and area restaurants to purchase more of their products from local farmers.

Citations
1 "In the United States, food typically travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to plate, as much as 25 percent
farther than In 1980" (Brian Halweil. 2002. Home Grown. Worldwatch Institute. url: http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/paper/163/orderpage.html).
2 USDA. 2002. "Leading Producer States by Commodity Groups, 2001." Economic Research Service Web site.
url: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/FarmIncome/firkdmu.htm.
3 Mary S. Choate. No date given. "A Good Tomato in Winter, Where?" Co-op Food Stores Web site.
url: http://www.coopfoodstore.com/news/Archives/arch_nutatt/seasonal/tomatoes.html.
4 USDA. 2002. "Number of farms, land in farms, and value of farm real estate, 1910-2002." Economic Research Service Web site.
url: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/farmincome/finfidmu.htm).
5 U.S. Census Bureau. 2002. "Detailed Occupation by Race, Hispanic Origin and Sex." U.S. Census Bureau Web site.
url: http://censtats.census.gov/cgi-bin/eeo/eeojobs.pl.
6 USDA. 2002. "Farm income and balance sheet statistics in constant U.S. dollars, 1929-2002." Economic Research Service Web site.
url: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/farmincome/finfidmu.htm.
7 Elitzak, Howard. 2000. "Food Marketing Costs." Economic Research Service Web site.
url: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/foodreview/septdec00/FRsept00e.pdf.
8 Krebs, Al. 2002. Agribusiness Examiner. Issue 144. url: http://www.ea1.com/CARP/agbiz/144.htm.
9 USDA. 2002. "Farmer's Market Facts." Agricultural Marketing Services Web site. url: http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/facts.htm.