Local Food Cleveland
Connecting Leaders, Growing Projects, Feeding Neighbors
LocalFoodCleveland.org is a new online social networking website that helps individuals and organizations connect with each other to grow the local food economy. The website includes member profiles, discussion forums, community groups, a “Buy Local Food” guide and more. It uses social networking technology similar to Facebook or MySpace to connect individuals and organizations to business and project opportunities in the growing local food economy as well as increase market demand for locally grown foods.
Growing a sustainable local food economy presents an enormous opportunity for economic and community development in the region. If Northeast Ohio were to purchase only 10 percent of its food from locally grown sources, it would keep more than $1 billion per year in the regional economy and generate thousands of new green jobs. A sustainable local food system will also improve personal health in the region, reduce carbon emissions from long-distance food transportation and packaging, and build strong relationships between urban and rural communities.
Local organizations and businesses are already seeing the benefits of LocalFoodCleveland.org. According to Brad Masi of the New Agrarian Center, “There is a remarkable diversity of small businesses, farmers, institutions, government agencies, and others that have come together over the past several years in a hundred different ways to grow a sustainable food system in Northeast Ohio. LocalFoodCleveland.org provides a needed resource, utilizing web-based social networking technologies to continue to grow the diversity of the local foods movement.”
One key feature of LocalFoodCleveland.org is the “Buy Local Food” guide, which features listings and interactive maps of more than 80 local farmers markets, restaurants, caterers and other businesses that provide locally grown and prepared foods to businesses and individuals in Northeast Ohio.
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability would like to thank its strategic partners, including The Countryside Conservancy, New Agrarian Center and Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition for their support in developing and marketing this website as well as for their work in growing a sustainable local food economy in Northeast Ohio.
For more information, visit LocalFoodCleveland at www.localfoodcleveland.org.
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S) is an award-winning entrepreneurial nonprofit based in Cleveland, Ohio, advancing the idea that sustainability principles are drivers for new business opportunities and improved quality of life. Together with its fast-growing network of more than 6,000 participants and more than 170 members, E4S is building a regional sustainable economy in Northeast Ohio that will affirm and sustain life for all. For program registration and further information, visit www.e4s.org.