E3B-Farm Show Section, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 11,2003 ‘Once-A-Day 9 Campaign Promotes Local Farm Products Jennifer Wilkins Cornell Division Nutritional Science Cornell Cooperative Extension educators in Dutchess County, N.Y. have come up with a new idea for promoting local agricul ture. The “Once-a-Day Make It Local” campaign was developed by Les Hulcoop and Christine Sergent as a way to remind con sumers to include local foods as a regular, year-round part of the diet. Hulcoop and Sergent worked with Dutchess County legislators to issue a resolution on June 19, 2002 that proclaims, “Be it re solved, that the Dutchess County Legislature does hereby encour age Dutchess County residents to buy local farm products.” Agency Debuts New Pear KEARNEYSVILLE, W. Va. A distinct blend of sugars, acids and other flavor com pounds give a rich, aromatic taste to a new pear variety released by the Agricultural Research Service. The new yellow and light-golden pear, named “Blake’s Pride,” was developed by horticulturist Richard Bell with the ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Keameysville, W.Va. The beauty of this pear isn’t just skin deep. The fruit is endowed not only with eating quali ty, but also with resistance to fire blight, a devas tating pear disease. Caused by a bacterium na tive to North America, fire blight greatly limits pear production in the eastern and midwestem United States. According to Bell, the U.S. pear industry re lies heavily on just four major pear varieties, leaving much room, and demand, for new and improved alternatives. “Blake’s Pride” now pro vides commercial pear growers and homeowners a new selection of disease-resistant pear. Budwood of “Blake’s Pride” is available free to nurseries on request by contacting Dr. Bell through the lab’s web site at: http:// afrsweb.usda.gov/DBell.htm Since the variety has been certified as virus free, Bell expects a growing demand from or chardists and homeowners beginning next year. Pears mature and are harvested from early August through early October, with varieties far ther south ripening earliest. “Blake’s Pride” rip ens 10 to 14 days after the widely grown “Bart lett” variety. California, Oregon and Washington state together produce most of the pears harvested in the United States. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton thinks “Once-a-Day Make It Local” is a great idea. She has used the Dutchess County resolu tion as a model for a resolution submitted to the U.S. Senate in August. Just like the Dutchess County resolution, Clinton’s “Once-a-Day” resolution promotes local farm products. It recognizes agriculture is a major industry in the U.S., contributing $B2 billion to our gross domestic product in 2000. The resolution also states that: • Farmers in every state pro duce a wide variety of local foods. • Locally-grown, seasonal foods are fresh and wholesome, with superior taste and nutrition. • Eating fresh foods in season is vital to a healthy diet, promotes health, and supports an active lifestyle. • Reduced time from field to table allows farmers to harvest fully-ripened produce. • This flavorful produce can be prepared with less fat, sugar, and salt. • During the months of Au gust, September, and October there is a tremendous selection of fresh, locally-grown produce. • Local farms provide jobs, at tract tourists, and re-circulate dollars into the local economy of our nation. • Local produce can be found at many locations such as farm ers’ markets, community-sup ported agriculture farms, farm stands, local stores, and restau rants. • If citizens of the U.S. would eat one item of local produce each day, every dollar spent on the produce would support inde- pendent family farms that con tribute to the nation’s economic health. • Finally, Dutchess County, New York, has already begun a “Once-a-Day” program to en courage local residents to buy local produce in support of their local farmers and their own health. For more information about the Dutchess County or Senate resolution, contact Les Hulcoop or Christine Sergeant at (845) Lancaster Farming Check out our Website! www.lai 677-8223. For more information about community food systems, contact Jennifer Wilkins at (607) 255-2730 or visit the Community Food Systems Website at www.cals.cornell.edu/ag foodcommunity. For more in formation about the Cornell Small Farms Program, contact R. David Smith, (607) 255-7286, or visit the Website at www.smal- Ifarms. Cornell, edu. icasterfarmina.com
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers