On September 13 , New England state agriculture leaders joined forces with dairy promotional material organization to launch the Keep Local Farms computer program .
inspire by the “ Fair Trade ” concept , Keep Local Farms will help get more money directly to dairy Fannie Farmer while make unattackable connections between Fannie Farmer and their client .
The plan is an effort to ensure dairy farmers in the Northeast are paid a sustainable price for their Milk River and to furnish consumers with a way to stomach local dairy farmers , their community and the local economy . “The Keep Local Farms program is a originative and innovative approach to help oneself our struggling dairy Farmer in a very hard economical environs . Vermonters are committed to helping uphold our dairy farm heritage and this program is one way we all can contribute . I look forward to the seeing the Keep Local Farms program succeed , ” enjoin Governor Douglas .
The Problem
Dairy farmers all across the Northeast and the Carry Nation are struggling to last due to the low-toned price they are pay for their Milk River and the high toll to develop Milk River .
Most consumers are not aware that a dairy farmer currently gets about .97 cents per gal of Milk River while it costs about $ 1.80 to produce . This is not sustainable and threaten to undermine the dairy manufacture in the Northeast .
“ Our dairy Farmer are the backbone of agriculture in Vermont . They are stewards of the ground and contribute significantly to our economy and way of liveliness , ” said Roger Allbee , Vermont Secretary of Agriculture .
“ There is not a dairy farmer in the commonwealth who has not been impacted by this crisis and while not a argent bullet , Keep Local Farms is a room for people to support this authoritative manufacture and help dairy farmers get a more equitable price for their product . ”
What ’s at Stake
The dairy industry in New England has a significant economical impact on the region . The Milk River produced on these farms is valued at $ 12.2 billion , and create over $ 5 billion in economic activity .
There are approximately 1880 farm in New England and 99 percentage of them are low , with fewer than 100 oxen per farm . notwithstanding , they provide upwards of 22,000 jobs in the dairy diligence , including farming , farm provision business , Milk River haulers , processors , seller , farm serve house and government agency .
consumer Vote with Their clam
Consumers take on an all important office in the Keep Local Farms program and the future viability of dairy farm farmers in the region .
In addition to purchasing nutrient - rich dairy products at the store , Keep Local Farms allows consumers to bestow directly to dairy farmers through the Keep Local Farms website ( KeepLocalFarms.org ) and in the future , through co - branded dairy products .
By contributing to a monetary fund that will be shared with Farmer of the Northeast , consumer can help insure a fair pay for dairy farmers and defend the novel , local food connection they help oneself to confirm .
“ We boost consumer to purchase and enjoy nutritious , high-pitched calibre and dairy products from our New England dairy farms , ” express Darryl Williams , Dairy Farmer and board member of the New England Family Dairy Farm Cooperative , “ And if consumers would care to do more to back dairy farmers the Keep Local Farms program helps them do that . ”
The Keep Local Farms program will grow through partnerships with retailers , organizations , colleges / university and business that share the core time value of financial backing for local farm , biotic community , economy and you the consumer . These are partners who value farms , local food and sustainable business practices .
For more information on the Keep Local Farms program please visitwww.keeplocalfarms.orgor call 877 - 388 - 7381 . Keep Local Farms is a partnership between the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council , the New England Family Dairy Farm Cooperative with Cooperative Development Institute , and the New England Dairy Promotion Board .
