Apple glut? Do your part!

The apple harvest was bountiful this year, and MLUI's Janice Benson reminds us of what we can do in her article in the Record Eagle.

...there's something very powerful that you and I can do right now that can help our local farms. Though we may not even realize it, there's power in our purchasing hands. The items we choose to purchase truly impact the farmers in our region.

Are we buying local apples? Are we passing by those Washington apples that some stores are offering, and making a choice in honor of our northern Michigan local farmers? Are we serving local apples on our menus every day, and on our salad bars, in our desserts and in our snacks?

Is the apple beneath the caramel a hard, green one shipped from elsewhere, or is it a juicy, flavorful, local one? Don't assume the apples in the pie you're served are local. Ask.

By increasing sales at local fresh markets -- farm stands, farmers markets, grocers, schools and restaurants -- the region's farmers could increase farm revenue by $2.9 million. That can make a big difference.

...So buy a bushel, get out your recipes,and pack the lunch boxes, freezers,and cupboards. Let your grocers and other food buyers know you'd like them to serve you locally grown apples, too. A bounty of apples is a good thing for us. And it can be a good thing for our farms and local economy, too -- but only if we buy local.

Right on!

Filed under Farming • News & Views