World Environment Day

Happy World Environment Day! This year’s theme for the United Nations-sponsored event, an awareness-raising function similar to Earth Day, is “Green Economy.” The UN’s Environment Programme describes a green economy as fundamentally “one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.” Organic farming fits perfectly into this conceptualization of a healthy, sustainable world–in fact, it’s the only way to ensure the maintenance of our well-being and that of the planet’s. FOG’s focus on supporting local farmers is a part of the national emphasis on eating close to home–a means of lowering food transportation distance and therefore fuel use as well as encouraging consumption of the produce that’s grown by farmers who actually live in the counties where their crops are eaten. It’s all part of a cycle of giving back–to the environment, to ensure sustainable economic growth while maintaining natural resources; to family farmers, the people who live and love their jobs; and to consumers, whose health and social connection to their local community is boosted with every organic cucumber and pea pod they buy.