EATER MEETS FARMER: "Why Local?"

The KCFC is pleased to welcome our new guest blogger Stephen Flanery and his series entitled Eater Meets Farmer. Stephen is a human resources extraordinaire by day and a gardener by night. He is a Kansas City native, a cat lover, and an avid reader of Edwin Way Teale. Join us periodically as Stephen explores what it means to eat local and organic.

by Stephen Flanery 

Local food has become such a trend that the real reasons for eating locally occasionally get lost. Consider this: "a dollar spent at a local business turns over seven times in that community; while the same dollar spent at a box store or chain only turns over 2.5 times." And then there’s this: according to Worldwatch Institute, our food travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to table. I live in the heart of the Midwest, surrounded by prime farmland, so why shouldn’t my food come from farms near Kansas City?

Fortunately, Kansas City has several organic markets right here in the metro area. And there are nearly 80 KCFC member growers, offering everything from chestnuts to beef to jams. These are farmers all within range of Kansas City who are committed to offering locally and ethically grown products.

By shopping at one of these farmers’ markets or joining a CSA with a local farmer, my dollars stay right here in Kansas City. Additionally, by dining at one of the many KC area restaurants that offers local and organic menu options, I support both local businesses and local farmers.

I guarantee if you visit your nearest farmers’ market and peruse the gorgeous displays of produce, you’ll have a hard time returning to the tasteless grocery store tomatoes. By purchasing locally grown food, I support my neighbors, I reduce my food miles, and I know exactly what I’m eating.

Next time I’ll ask “why organic?” In the mean time, share some of your favorite restaurants in KC that support local farmers.

EATER MEETS FARMER: "Getting Started"

The KCFC is pleased to welcome our new guest blogger Stephen Flanery and his series entitled Eater Meets Farmer. Stephen is a human resources extraordinaire by day and a gardener by night. He is a Kansas City native, a cat lover, and an avid reader of Edwin Way Teale. Join us periodically as Stephen explores what it means to eat local and organic.


by Stephen Flanery

Welcome to the Kansas City Food Circle’s new weekly blog topic, Eater Meets Farmer. Each installment in this series will be a manifestation of the KCFC mission: The Kansas City Food Circle connects eaters with local, organic food in order to promote a sustainable food system in the Kansas City region. This blog is about starting a conversation. It’s about stretching ourselves. It’s about offering resources and information that will assist us in our local, organic food journey.

First, let me tell you a little something about me. I was a gardener from an early age. I began by helping my mom tend her large garden of vegetables. I loved to harvest wild mulberries and gooseberries. Now I have a small garden of my own where I grow some of my favorite vegetables and herbs. I love to shop at the farmers' markets, and I enjoy cooking. Mostly, I just love food. The local, organic food movement became a passion of mine when I realized my food decisions affect people and wildlife around the globe. I see food decisions as not only a personal health issue, but also an environmental issue and a social justice issue. I believe what I eat says a lot about who I am.

With this blog I’d like to talk about why local and organic is important and about what we can do to foster a more sustainable food system in Kansas City. I’m hardly an innovator, but rather, I follow in the footsteps of countless eaters and farmers who have come before me. So what do I have to offer? I have some ideas, I have a little knowledge, and I have lots of passion.

Now you know how I became interested in local and organic. How about you? What got you started on local and organic?

And join me next time as I ask: WHY LOCAL?