NOTEWORTHY FOOD COMMUNITY NEWS - MAY 2008

"YOU ARE THE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT" - Friends of the Nashville Farmers' Market and Tennessee Environmental Council to Launch the Buy Fresh Buy Local Middle Tennessee Chapter in 2008 

Tennessee joins the national Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign that helps shoppers find and recognize locally grown products in restaurants, farmers markets, farm stands and groceries.  Through the Buy Fresh Buy Local logo and marketing materials, consumers can readily identify products produced through environmentally sound farming practices and served in establishments that have committed to local foods and sustainable business practices. 

The campaign makes available to members fun and proven marketing tools that are reserved for those that have taken a pledge of sustainability, making the Buy Fresh Buy Local badge a guarantee to consumers that their products are: SOUTHERN AND SUSTAINABLE.  Please visit the Buy Fresh Buy Local website to read our full member sustinability commitment.

Buy Fresh Buy Local sponsored events are another way that customers, members and sponsors can be involved in promoting and learning more about the important issues surrounding our food.  Watch for Buy Fresh Buy Local to partner with other organizations for movie premieres, farm tours, local food dinners nad farmers market special events.

We invite farmers, growers, chefs, restaurants, market and groceries to join FNFM and TEC as founding partners of the Buy Fresh Buy Local Middle Tennessee Chapter. 

For more information about this exciting new opportunity to recognize the true dedication of our community to growing, distributing and preparing locally grown and raised foods, visit the BFBL Middle Tennessee website www.buyfreshbuylocaltn.org or call campaign coordinator and FNFM President, Jennifer Hagan-Dier, at 615-423-5824.

Who Are Friends?  What Do We Do?

The Mission of the Friends of the Nashville Farmers' Market is to provide development and support for the Nashville Farmers' Market to enhance the Markets role as a civic resource and to accomplish the following long-term goals:

• To improve the availability of a diverse range of affordable quality foods to all Nashville-area citizens;


• To connect and promote local and regional producers and farmers to chefs, restaurateurs, food organizations and all members of the Nashville community;


• And, to support small Tennessee and regional family farmers and promote a healthier community through education and marketing to foster an appreciation for local, fresh and sustainably raised produce and products. By providing volunteer assistance to farmers and the Markets education and marketing initiatives, the FNFM will help promote healthy eating and food education in the entire community. The FNFM will also coordinate its efforts with other community organizations in outreach activities in Middle Tennessee and beyond.