What is Local?

When we sat down to think about locally grown food, we realized we needed to define local. We came up with these criteria:

We see local as: the closest place to get what you need at the lowest environmental cost.

We define local this way because not all areas have farms or the climate to grow the food they need. In the future, we'd like to contribute to changing that, through education on seasonal eating and developing technology for local farming in a variety of climates. But during the New England growing season (May through October), the average buyer of Locally Known produce will be about 300 miles from the farm in southern Maine where it was grown. In the winter months, Locally Known will explore growing salad greens in Florida (the most local option, using the criteria above) and distributing them along the east coast.

Locally Known specifically targets retailers and distributors who can't find a local or regional supply for the organic produce they need at the price they are willing to pay. Locally Known solves this problem and gives the consumer an opportunity to purchase organic produce grown by farmers in their region. Locally Known does not sell at smaller venues where we would be competing with smaller local farms that depend on these markets. Small local farms are essential to the local food movement.

Additionally, large retail food chains typically require a level of food safety certification and price competitiveness that small local farms can't meet. We are developing programs to work with local farmers who would like to take advantage of the latest in organic farming technology and food safety processing, so they can, through the Locally Known farmer's cooperative, sell into larger retail food chains.

Why Local Farming?

We feel local organic agriculture is an integral part of the future food supply of the Northeastern United States. Healthy local farms mean local healthy economies and a safe source of food. Local and regional based agriculture and food systems are gaining strength because as fuel and energy costs go up, the cost of food from outside the northeast is rising. In the near future, even the most efficient industrialized food companies will have trouble competing in the northeast market if a regional food infrastructure is developed. Locally Known is actively working to become a large part of the organic produce supply in the Northeast. We feel that giving people the opportunity to eat locally and regionally is essential.

Environmental Benefits

If you are concerned about the environment and your health regionally grown organic food is the way to go. Not only are countless harmful pesticides and herbicides kept out of the environment, but less fuel is used in the growing and transportation process. Locally Known is implementing a plan to be carbon neutral by 2012. The company will do this by converting to solar energy with a biodiesel powered generator backup. All transport vehicles will be run on biodiesel and the company is sponsoring a tree planting program in Haiti, one of the most deforested countries in the world.

Locally Known also has a carbon control plan that its suppliers must develop within the first three months of their growing contract. Atlantic Organics the primary, initial supplier to Locally Known is developing a plan to become carbon neutral by 2012. Atlantic Organics will do this by converting to an alternative biodiesel and by planting enough trees to offset it carbon emissions. At Locally Known it is important to us that our food is healthy and that our contribution to the world helps lay the framework for an economically and environmentally viable future.

Food Security

As we stand on the footstep of the decline of the petroleum age we must ask ourselves about where our food will come from in the future. We think that local and regional food security is essential to our communities. That is why we are trying to build a strong packaging and distribution infrastructure here in Maine. We feel that the more food we can produce in season here in Maine the more we can contribute to the safety of the regional food supply. It doesn't make sense to us why we must depend on produce grown in California, Arizona, Mexico, Argentina and Chile when we can produce an array of fresh and storage vegetables to keep us healthy here in New England.

Local Economy

The Locally Known business model is also set up to encourage healthy local economies. The company is creating eleven much needed jobs in Maine this year with above-average wages. The company also feels that agriculture is beginning to gain importance and value again as town, counties and even states are recognizing the value of open space, local agriculture and regional economies.

New England as a Bread Basket

Agriculture throughout the Northeast has been in decline for half a century as production of many crops has been shifted to the west coast and development has destroyed millions of acres of farmland.

The movement towards organic and local foods has created a situation where farming organically in the Northeast is economically viable. Locally Known will work with conventional farmers by helping them to transition to organic production with its transitional organic program to be launched in 2010. Through this program the company will offer agricultural free consulting services to its first year growers to assist them in producing large yields of high quality organic produce.

We feel that the northeast can produce all of its own food if we are creative and can develop a larger organic farming community.