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Of the roughly $3 billion that Mainers spend each year on food, just 4% goes to the thousands of local farmers and producers around the state. Why buy Idaho potatoes or New York onions when they are grown by hard-working farmers right down the road?
USA (Union Supported Agriculture), founded in 2004 by Food AND Medicine, the Eastern Maine Labor Council, and local farmers, makes eating healthy, local food affordable and convenient. Open to union members and the general public, USA acts as a "community union" of people who believe that the union values of mutual aid, support, and solidarity, together with fair and local food will make for a more vibrant and healthy community. Like other Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, USA is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between local farmers and members who share in the risk and bounty of sustainable agriculture. Members pay at the beginning of the season, providing the farm with start-up money and a guaranteed market for their produce and, in turn, receive a weekly share of the harvest.
What's a "farm share"? It's like an investment in farm production. Union and community members support farmers in the spring with an up-front investment of as little as $165 by June 1st. This up-front money helps farmers buy seed and keep the farm running until the crops get going in July.
From July through October, union and community members get back more than their money's worth in vegetables. This can amount to as little as $16 a week! When compared to their grocery store and big-box store counterparts, past years' organic USA "shares" (which include tomatoes, melons, peas, garlic, potatoes, sweet corn, peppers, and more than 15 other types of vegetables) were far cheaper and, of course, healthier and fresher!
USA is about neighbors helping neighbors. It's about building an alliance between working people that can help create positive change in our communities--good jobs, a decent social safety net for everyone, and a living wage. With thousands of jobs leaving our communities, we need to stick together through tough economic times.
USA makes it easy to buy local. For more information on how to get a share, how to help out, or how to support laid-off workers through the program, call Brent Hall at 989-5860 or send Brent an email. The USA sign-up form is in the brochure.
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