How Locavore Food Friendly is your state?
Brattleboro, VT. Strolling of the Heifers, a Vermont non-profit focuses on educating people about local food systems. Recently, they released their annual Locavore Index for 2015. The Index rates the 50 U.S. States, plus the District of Columbia, as to how committed they are when it comes to supporting the local food economy. Some of the criteria are the number of Farmers Markets, CSA’s, Food Hubs, which is then weighted against the population of the State.
“The purpose of the Index is to stimulate efforts across the country to use more local food in homes, restaurants, schools and institutions,” said Orly Munzing, founder and executive director of Strolling of the Heifers.
Four States – Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and Oregon – kept their top standings from the previous year’s 2014 Locavore Index. The latest index also includes new data from direct sales by farmers, check the 2015 Locavore Index below to see how your state fared.
Strolling of the Heifers began in 2002 with an actual parade of heifers by local Brattleboro resident, Orly Munzing, to raise awareness of locally produced food. Ms. Munzing was inspired by the annual “running of the bulls” event in Pamplona, Spain. “As a way of honoring and supporting local farmers, she envisioned a slower, friendlier, female version of the Running of the Bulls — the Strolling of the Heifers.”
Tens of thousands of people turn out each year for this weekend event to learn more about where their food comes from and to celebrate the importance of locally produced food.