Arts & Culture
Sales managers Peter Balsden and Sarah Jo Karoses of Bice’s Quality Critter Ranch explain how purchasing their local product can benefit the local community.
Food fair concentrates on economy
The Pointer
jspra793@uwsp.edu
Insight into healing some of our economic wounds was apparent at the 2009 Local Food Fair last Tuesday. Purchasing food from local farmers may boost our local economy, said supporters of the movement.
Sprawled throughout the commons area of the Stevens Point Area Senior High School were representatives of the local food movement, a rising development in central Wisconsin and throughout the country. Hundreds of local community members visited the stations throughout the commons area to learn a bit more about the benefits of buying local produce.
“A farm is a raw material producer,” said Chris Malek of Malek Family Stewardship Farm, LLC. “All economies start from a raw product.”
There are over 50 varieties of certified organic potatoes grown on his farm in Rosholt, WI. The potato tots get sold to different restaurants, co-operatives and cafeterias. Most of the potatoes eaten at the fair were donated by Malek.
“When farmers make money, they spend it in the local economy,” he said. “You can’t do that if the farmer is shorted.”
While buying local certainly supports the farmers producing the crop, it can also support the local community as money is more likely to stay there and circulate.
“The money’s staying in the same area and it’s being recycled,” said Sarah Jo Karoses, a sales manager for Bice’s Quality Critter Ranch of Vesper, Wis.
It can also save money by having fewer people handling the food.
“We are providing a lot of local people food so that it doesn’t need to be shipped thousands of miles,” said Mark Anderson of Sunny Sky Farm in Amherst, Wis.
Anderson’s farm works as a Community Supported Agriculture system, where shareholders purchase his produce before the growing season begins. This commitment establishes a close relationship to the farmer and food purchaser.
This season, Anderson will be collaborating with Bice’s and establishing a meat co-operative.
“I think it’s really beneficial that people have a wide spectrum of local products available to them in one spot,” said Peter Baisden, sales manager for Bice’s.
The large turnout that evening signified an increase of awareness the economy has played in regard to the traditional habits of obtaining food.
“The turnout tonight has raised the awareness of the local food economy…It’s probably ten times bigger than last year,” said Larry Raikowski, of Raikowski Farm in Junction City, Wis., “I definitely believe it will continue to grow.”
