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Farm Fresh Atlas provides a road map for good eating
The 2002 Farm Fresh Atlas helped nearly 30,000 people in the Dane County area buy fresh produce, meat, cheese, and other locally grown food directly from farmers and businesses. Featuring both new and returning farms, the 2003 Atlas promises to be even more successful.
The Farm Fresh Atlas is your guide to delicious, farm-fresh eating. The Atlas includes descriptions and locations of over 60 farms and food-related businesses that sell their products directly to customers in southern Wisconsin. In addition, the Atlas lists farmers’ markets, restaurants, food co-ops and other business sponsors that feature locally grown food. All of the farms and businesses listed in the Atlas pledge to protect our land and water resources, treat animals with care and respect, and provide safe working conditions for their employees.
“Beginning May 10, the Atlas will be available Saturdays at the Dane County Farmers’ Market while supplies last,” said market vendor and Atlas steering committee member Judy Hageman. “The Atlas is a great resource, and it’s free. I encourage everyone who cares about eating well and supporting our family farms to pick up a copy.”
The Dane County Farmers’ Market will have the Atlas available at their information booth on the capitol square at the top of State Street. In addition, many Madison-area businesses and farmers’ markets will feature the Atlas during the summer months. These include the Willy Street Co-op, the Mifflin Street Co-op, the Regent Market Co-op, L’Etoile Bakery and Market and the East Side Farmers’ Market. The South Central Library System will distribute the Atlas through its public libraries.
Atlas steering committee chairperson Chris Rietz hopes that people will use this resource to visit farms and meet farmers. “Many of the farms listed in the Atlas welcome visitors. This is a great opportunity to learn how food is grown and meet the people who bring it to your table. Plus, many of the farms listed in the Atlas provide opportunities to pick-your-own produce or buy food in bulk, which can help stretch your food dollar.”
The Farm Fresh Atlas is a collaborative project of REAP Food Group, the Dane County Farmers’ Market, and the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. Joanna Seeber, UW-Madison Department of Geography, designed and developed the 2003 Atlas.
If you are interested in distributing copies of the Atlas, or if you would like more information about this resource, contact Cris Carusi at (608) 262-8018 or cecarusi@wisc.edu.
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