Go Green: Becoming a Locavore

During September, a number of local people will be taking a "green" challenge.
They'll be eating local food for the entire month and they're urging others to take part. 

At the Southwedge farmers market, there are lot's of "green" food options.
The Northeast Organic Farming Association is urging everyone to take advantage of all of this and eat entirely local for the month of September.

It's called being a locavore. 
Kate Mendenhall, the Executive Director of NOFA says, "it starts on the first day of September and goes until the end of the month.  It's a way for consumers to really push the way that we eat. To challenge ourselves to eat 100% local."

This challenge has been taking place each September for the last few years. 
Mendenhall has done it each time and says it keeps getting easier.
"Five years ago when we started doing this challenge, it was much more difficult.  You couldn't find local organic wheat right here in the Rochester community.  Now you can pick up flour at the Southwedge Farmers Market and pick up bread that's made with local organic flour," Mendenhall says.  

Local fruits and vegetables are easy to find too.  Mendenhall says not only is the idea healthy, it's also a big help to the environment. 

"Our farmers really care about the way they treat the earth. They really care about where the seeds come from the way they treat the soil, growing healthy soil, healthy plants, and then healthy animals as well."

Eating local also cuts down on fuel used to transport food, which in turns lessons everyone's carbon footprint.  
 
"Every year more and more people are interested in finding local, organic, and sustainable food and sharing those treats with their family and supporting local farmers."
For more information on the Locavore challenge, click here.