Eating Local Gains Steam

June 21, 2008 marked the beginning of Sustain Door’s “100-Mile Food Challenge.” The challenge is for Door County residents to seek out and consume only foods grown and processed within a 100-mile radius of the borders of Door County for one year and to record their experiences in a challenge journal. Thirteen families, composed of 26 people, are participating.

Individuals in the challenge set their own goals and parameters regarding what they eat. Some plan to eat entirely local foods at every meal while some have committed to just one meal a week. Any plan is acceptable as long as it presents a challenge to the individual or the family and is in line with the goals of the challenge.

“The purpose of the challenge is to make people more mindful of everything that we have around us in Door County and to bring publicity to all the local farmers and producers…We want to keep them here,” said Virge Temme, Sustain Door member and challenge co-coordinator.

By recording and sharing their experiences about finding food sources in journals, participants will be helping the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Extension Office identify gaps and needs in local agriculture.

Other benefits of the challenge include an emphasis on community building. As Temme pointed out, “People at farmers markets spend more time talking to each other than they do at the grocery store. It’s all about building community and reconnecting.”

The 100-Mile Food Challenge will continue until June 20, 2009.

For more information visit http://www.sustaindoor.com.