Real Local Food: The Kaw Valley Farm Tour
Mark Sprague, Board Member
Mickey and I began shopping at The Merc Co+op in the mid 70s (I’m almost mid 70s) because we had become vegetarians and were concerned about what we were eating.
The Merc was the only place we could get things we needed to prepare our meals. Back then, nobody else carried tofu, miso and the sundry other items that supported the lifestyle.
About the same time, I began gardening and working at a farmer’s coop. Through these experiences I realized we needed find organic sources to supplement what I could grow.
Again, the co-op was the only place to find organic food. The USDA Organic label you see on produce now did not exist until 2002.
Fortunately, our desire for organic aligned with many others in our area which created a large enough market that many small farms started popping up nearby in order to meet that demand.
The Lawrence Farmer’s Market began a couple of years after The Merc.
The Rolling Prairie CSA, (Community Supported Agriculture) which distributes its produce in front of our store every Monday evening, was formed in 1993, and is the oldest multi-farm CSA in the country.
We are lucky to have so many good farmers in our vicinity to allow us access to such good and healthy food.
Being local means you can meet the person who grows your food and ask questions about how they raised their crops or livestock. Their food also did not have to travel far to get to you, and their income contributes to our local economy.
This is why supporting local is a big deal to The Merc Co+op and why we show you their pictures and information proudly displayed in the store and local makes up about 20% of what we sell. And we mean local, not produce from Colorado because it is a neighboring state.
This weekend, you have a wonderful chance to experience local by taking the Kaw Valley Farm Tour. A wonderful, fun and educational activity for the whole family. Get out and meet the growers, see how they manage their farm, and sample some of their wares. I hope I see some of you along the way.
