Happy New Year! We are all excited to show 2020 to the door, and to welcome in 2021. While the turning of a calendar page may still leave the harsh impacts of COVID-19, we would like to invite you to look forward and find new ways to uplift yourself and your community this year. We invite you to put food first, and to join us in a food revolution!
At High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, we believe that food connects us to each other. That is why we have food at the center of our New Year’s Resolutions. And no, we are not cutting out carbs or taking sugar out of our diets…We are strengthening our food and farm communities. Here are some ideas that you can add to your New Year’s Resolutions:
- Eat out, but make it local: Restaurants have been hit hard this year. We have seen our partner restaurants get creative, by offering take home options, changing up their menus, investing in outdoor seating options, etc. This year, when deciding where to eat, we invite you to use the HDFFA Food and Farm Directory for inspiration. When eating at one of our partner restaurants, you can ensure you are supporting a sustainable, regional food system. Find our directory at partner locations, or view our online version here:
- Volunteer: Committing to volunteer once a month is a great way to learn more about your community and to give a lending hand to others. Amidst COVID-19, food insecurity rates have doubled, with at least 28,000 Central Oregonians visiting food pantries monthly. Some of our favorite organizations to volunteer at include NeighborImpact, and all of the food pantries that they serve. There are also volunteer opportunities here at HDFFA. You can find out more information here:
- Switch one kitchen item to a local product: If 10% of households in Central Oregon spent $8 per month buying directly from a farmer versus purchasing produce from a commercial grocery store, we would invest $775,000 into our local economy, create 13 jobs and provide $263,000 in wages for Central Oregonians.By switching one conventional pantry or fridge item to local, you are investing in the local economy and supporting the food community. Plus, The Central Oregon Locavore makes it easy to shop local!
- Share food with loved ones: Food connects us, and we believe food should be put first. We invite you to put food at the center, and commit to enjoying at least three meals per week with loved ones, whether that be gathered around your dining room table, or cooking with family over zoom. If you share on social media, add the hashtags #hdffa and #getatasteofthisplace so we can re-share your meal creations.
