July 16, 2010
July 16, 2010
Governor encourages people to visit July 22 farmers market at State Capitol, local farmers markets across the state
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said people seeking the healthiest, freshest and best-tasting fruits and vegetables should look for ones grown in Michigan.
"Local food is fresher, tastes better and comes from farmland near you," Granholm said. "And because many fruits and vegetables can lose up to 50 percent of their nutrients in just five days' time, buying locally grown food is a healthier choice."
The governor said Michigan's wide variety of agricultural products will be showcased at two upcoming farmers markets on the lawn of the State Capitol. The first farmers market will be Thursday, July 22 and the second September 16. She said people also should check out the 200 community farmers markets across the state. For a list of farmers markets, visit the Michigan Farmers Market Association website at www.mifma.org.
"When you purchase locally produced food, you're helping to support Michigan farmers who provide beautiful and productive open spaces and habitat, contribute to our tax base and employ local workers," Granholm said. "Michigan's agri-food sector employs one million people and contributes more than $71 billion annually to the state economy."
"Buying local foods also boosts the Michigan economy," Granholm said. "If every Michigan household spent just $10 a week of its current grocery budget on locally-grown and produced foods, it would generate almost $2 billion to circulate within our state economy every year."
"So the next time you go grocery shopping, look for Michigan-grown blueberries, peaches, corn, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables," Granholm said. "Not only will the food be fresher, healthier and better tasting, you'll be helping your neighbors, your community and the Michigan economy. For a Pure Michigan experience, buy Michigan-grown and produced foods."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Farmers Markets
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov258Full_328005_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov258Edit_328006_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov258Quote_328007_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
A healthier lifestyle begins with eating better, and that means including more fruits and vegetables in your diet. If you're seeking the healthiest and freshest and best-tasting fruits and vegetables, look for ones that are grown right here in Michigan.
Local food is fresher, it tastes better, and it comes from farmland near you. And because many fruits and vegetables can lose up to 50 percent of their nutrients in just five days' time, buying locally grown food is a healthier choice.
Michigan food producers offer an abundance of high-quality fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products. Our state is second only to California in agricultural diversity, making Michigan a key component in the nationwide local foods movement.
To help introduce the public to all the different kinds of wonderful food we produce in Michigan, we partner with local groups like Michigan Food and Farming Systems to host farmers markets on the lawn of the State Capitol. These markets showcase the wide variety of healthy and delicious Michigan food products.
The first farmers market will be next Thursday, July 22. The second farmers market will be September 16. And again, both these farmers markets will be held in front of the State Capitol.
If you can't attend the markets on the Capitol lawn, try visiting one of the 200 community farmers markets across the state. For a list of markets, go to the Michigan Farmers Market Association website at M-I-F-M-A.org. That website again is M-I-F as in farmers-M-A.org.
When you purchase locally produced food, you're helping to support Michigan farmers who provide beautiful and productive open spaces and habitat and who contribute to our tax base and employ local workers.
Michigan's agri-food sector employs one million people. It contributes more than $71 billion annually to the state economy. Every year, Michigan exports more than $2 billion in agricultural commodities to other states, and another billion dollars worth to countries all over the world.
Buying local foods also boosts the Michigan economy. If every Michigan household spent just $10 a week of its current grocery budget on locally grown and produced foods, it would generate almost $2 billion to circulate within our state economy every year.
So the next time you go grocery shopping, look for Michigan-grown blueberries, peaches, corn, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Not only will the food be fresher and healthier and better tasting, you'll be helping your neighbors and your community and the Michigan economy. So for a Pure Michigan experience, buy Michigan-grown and produced foods.
Thank you for listening.
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