Next time you’re going to the grocery store or out to eat, think about how you can eat local. When your dollars stay in our community, it makes a big difference.
To demonstrate just how big of a difference it can make, Local First has a challenge for you. They’re asking you to shift $10 of your weekly food purchases to local food for 10 weeks.
That seems simple enough. And if 1,000 people do this, it will generate $100,000 for our local economy.
As part of its 5th annual Eat Local Challenge, Local First created the 10x10 Pledge campaign where individuals commit to spending $10 each week on local food for 10 weeks, beginning on August 28.
“Ten dollars is a drop in the bucket,” says Seth Galligan, Local First communications coordinator. “No one will have to make a substantial lifestyle change to meet this challenge.”
There are many ways to spend your weekly $10 for the 10x10 Pledge. Eating at a local restaurant is probably the easiest way for many. Shopping at a local grocery store instead of a national chain is another way. Buying locally made food products is something simple that can be done no matter where you shop and if you’re not sure if a product is made locally, look at the label or ask the store’s employees.
For every national restaurant, store or food product, we have a comparable local choice.
“We have alternatives,” Galligan says. “Just drive your car to a different parking lot.”
Registration to take the 10x10 Pledge is now open and colorful graphic icons can be downloaded to post on social media sites. People are encouraged to share their commitment with family and friends and engage in conversations about their experiences eating local food. A Facebook group called “The 10x10 Pledgers” has been created to promote this type of dialogue, and Twitter users are asked to use the hashtag #10x10 in their tweets about the pledge.
Once you sign up for the 10x10 Pledge, you’ll receive a weekly email that’s sponsored by a local food business. The email will share information about eating locally, community workshop events, recipes and more.
The Eat Local Challenge culminates in Fork Fest, Local First’s annual fundraiser. Fork Fest happens on Thursday, October 18 from 5-9 p.m. at the Romence Gardens Greenhouse. For $25, you can sample products from more than 35 local food vendors while listening to the Fauxgrass Quartet.
Organizers at Local First realize it’s not practical to ask everyone to buy local 100 percent of the time, but the goal with this campaign is to create more awareness about the local food community. Galligan reminds us that we vote with our dollars and when we spend money locally, local businesses will stay and contribute to our economy.
Local First and its presenting sponsor, Valley City Linen, have a goal to get at least 1,000 people to commit to the 10x10 Pledge, which will in turn put $100,000 back into our local food system.
“It’s a positive change that everyone can make and every dollar will be beneficial to our community,” says Galligan.
Since our Rapid Growth Media readers already overwhelmingly support the local food community, the 10x10 Pledge will be a simple commitment, but be sure to sign up online and be counted. And if you still haven’t signed up by August 28, don’t worry, you can sign up any time during the 10 weeks. Encourage your family and friends to join you in the 10x10 Pledge, too. Here’s all of the information you’ll need:
- Visit the
Local First 10x10 Pledge event page to find out more information.
-
Take the 10x10 Pledge to spend $10 a week for 10 weeks from August 28 through October 30.
- Ask your family and friends to take the pledge as well.
- Plan on attending the Local First
Fork Fest event on Thursday, October 18 from 5-9 p.m. at the Romence Gardens Greenhouse.
- Become a part of the
10x10 Pledgers group on Facebook.
- Like Local First of West Michigan on
Facebook.
- Follow
@LocalFirst on Twitter and when talking about the 10x10 Pledge, be sure to use the hashtag #10x10.
- Visit
Valley City Linen, the presenting sponsor, online to find out more about them.
Source: Seth Galligan, Local First Communications Coordinator
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Images provided by Local First.