The average food item travels 1550-2480 miles (2500-4000 KM) in the U.S.

–The WorldWatch Institute, "Home Grown," 2002

	FoodRoutes Network Announcements

Buy Locally Grown, It's Thousands of Miles Fresher
There are many reasons to buy locally grown food

• You'll get exceptional taste and freshness - Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries.

• 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 Best Tasting Food Ripens Close to Home
Food travels on average 1,300 miles from farm to table.

• Most fresh fruits and vegetables produced in the U.S. are shipped from California, Florida, and Washington.

• 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.

Plant Your Dollars Close to Home and Watch Your Community Grow
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. Fewer than one million Americans now claim farming as a primary occupation.