Title
To celebrate National Farmers Market Week and recognize the important role of farmers markets, their managers and producers, and the Ohio Farmers Market Network in helping residents of Columbus and Franklin County attain greater access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Body
WHEREAS, August 4th, 2019 - August 10th, 2019 is National Farmers Market Week and an opportunity to bring awareness to the health benefits and economic impacts of shopping for fruits and vegetables at farmers markets; and,
WHEREAS, in Franklin County, 1 in 4 adults eat vegetables less than one time per day and almost half of adults consume fruit less than one time per day; and,
WHEREAS, eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day can help individuals maintain a healthy weight and may reduce the risk of many diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers; and,
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council adopted the City of Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan in November 2016, demonstrating the City’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all residents have improved access to and education about healthy food, affordable food and local food ; and,
WHEREAS, farmers markets such as those belonging to the Ohio Farmers Market Network, provide important access to fruits and vegetables for the residents of the City of Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, farmers markets have the potential to provide a space for small and local growers to innovate and respond directly to customer demand, to attract customer traffic to other surrounding, local businesses, and create local jobs; and,
WHEREAS, it has been shown that only 17.4 cents of every dollar American’s spend on food goes to the grower compared to the 90 cents of every dollar growers receive at farmers markets; and,
WHEREAS, it is estimated that for every dollar spent at a local farmers market, 30 to 45 cents stay in the area. Large chains only return 15 cents to the local economy; now, there...
Click here for full text